I am stumped!!

[jbyers23]

Well the title tells the story. I have something and that is all I know for certain. It looks old and other than that I just simply don't know. I have taken it to several dealers and I have heard many different stories on what it could be. What are your opinions? I would love any information.

Here are some pictures and I can always take more.

[jbyers23]

More pictures!

[KC]

This reminds me of an ivory piece, (similar to this) that I bought from an ailing museum that was selling display items, while on a trip in Russia.

What are the dimensions?  Does it look like something was every affixed to the back side? (like a clasp?)

[mart]

Have you done the hot pin test to see if its a composite material ?? Looks way too shiny for ivory and doesn`t really have the right color from what I can tell on the pic !!  What is the size ??  Has a Mother of Pearl look to me !!

[cogar]

Maybe it is Alabaster?

[frogpatch]

From my perspective it looks like soapstone. Any dealer would have known that though

[KC]

Now that I am at my computer and can view it clearly and closeup....I agree that looks more like soapstone.

Search vintage carved soapstone pendants and you will see many examples.

But highly recommend you do the pin test....to verify.

[jbyers23]

I am thinking that it is soapstone as well, but I am to nervous to do a hot pin test. I took it in to several more dealers, but no luck on finding out what it is. I am just going to try to sell it. I am sure that I will not have much luck, but I have to try. I need to pay for tuition some how.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251085823145

[mart]

Hate to say this,, but you may do better at auction if you do not know what it is !!  Buyers love a mystery,, just make the description colorful and interesting and stick with the facts you know !!  But it doesn`t hurt to throw an idea out there !!

[jbyers23]

Hate to say this,, but you may do better at auction if you do not know what it is !!  Buyers love a mystery,, just make the description colorful and interesting and stick with the facts you know !!  But it doesn`t hurt to throw an idea out there !!

That is what I tried to do. I don't want to be deceptive by any means, but I just honestly do not know what it is. I love to think about what it is though or when it was made and by who.

[jbyers23]

Any suggestions on how to get more exposure to my item? I've never tried selling an antique before especially not on ebay. What are some good tips on how to get more traffic.

[mart]

One thing that helps is to put several possibilities in the title !!  You could say "Very Unique, Ivory ? Soapstone ? or Alabaster Carving" !!  That way any one looking for either one of the three possibilities will see yours since the searches are usually done with one term !!  I mean if I were looking for a similar piece ,, I would search for "soapstone carving" and yours has that in the title so it would come up !!

[KC]

Great tip Mart~

[mart]

It helps to broaden your horizons, KC !! It always helped mine !!

[frogpatch]

I was wondering how you got those broad horizons.