19C Alabaster Cherub Sculpture?

[KingMidas]

Hello! This shall serve as my first post here ^_^

Shaking my head after some lengthy research once again, sometimes I overwhelm myself weighing pros and cons. (I have Asperger's) lol.

After a good 30 minutes of digging around the goodwill store I was ready to check out a couple things, then decided to take one more look in the "collectible/figurine" section. Peering down into the lowest shelf I notice a somewhat large old looking cherub sculpture. Grabbed it and checked it out for $5.99.

Research: I knew it wasn't consistent with soap stone, nor was it marble. Which led to something called alabaster. Translucent, soft, slight yellowing patina in some areas, seems legit. The damage isn't too bad, could be worse. One broken toe and one broken finger. My optimism is telling me 19C Alabaster Marble Cherub Sculpture (Art Nouveau) Either way it was a very fulfilling find for me since I love statues/scultpures and appreciate art very much. I'm going to attach some images, let me know what you think. Any extra knowledge on this would be greatly appreciated as well. (Stands about 11 1/4") Unsigned.

[mart]

Dows the surface feel smooth or can you feel slight ridges ??

[KingMidas]

It is smooth.

[KC]

Does t feel cold to the touch?  (Natural stone feels cool.)

Nice thread where people are trying to discern alabaster and marble and the cleaning of...
http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?54777-Marble-white-alabaster-or-onyx

[KingMidas]

Does t feel cold to the touch?  (Natural stone feels cool.)

Nice thread where people are trying to discern alabaster and marble and the cleaning of...
http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?54777-Marble-white-alabaster-or-onyx

- Yes it does and thank you.

[mart]

KC,, On your computer can you see the lines I am seeing ??  I am trying to figure if they are carving lines or are part of the stone itself !!

[KC]

Which picture Mart?

The closer I look I am just not seeing veining....

[mart]

KC remember I am on a very old computer,,but I see the lines on all pics !! It seems to be part of the material/stone !!  Look on the front of the bodies of the cherubs !! Also see lines that look somewhat different from the knee down to the foot on one pic !!  The lines are shaped similar to what wood grain looks like !! Radiating circular shapes !!  I see them on all the pics and it isn`t the computer !!

[KC]

Can you please post a picture of the bottom of the statue?

[KingMidas]

Yes I will be posting a detailed picture of the bottom tomorrow afternoon I haven't had much time to get on and apologize. I have been looking closer and closer at this and researching more and more. I didn't even notice there was a line once in a while as I move my fingers across it's not THAT smooth, also there is a small natural occurring "hole" like spot in some areas, as well as some sparkles here and there. Consistent with white carrara marble??.

[mart]

Only problem with the marble is that it is opaque where this piece does have a translucent quality !!

[KingMidas]

Only problem with the marble is that it is opaque where this piece does have a translucent quality !!

Right, maybe that has to do with how I had all the light I could possibly get with a bright bulb and the sun hitting it from behind during a sunset lol. So here is the bottom as promised.



AND HERE IM JUST COMPARING TO ANOTHER ANTIQUE CARRARA PIECE BOTTOM. Lines on the right side seem consistent?

[icedgold10]

Is it very heavy?  Alabaster is very heavy a resin wouldn't be.

[mart]

Well,, I did not consider resin,,but it might be better to check !!  Try using a pair of pliers and hold a sewing needle or pin till red hot,, then stick it into the bottom and see if it goes in and melts slightly !! If it does then we know its resin,, if nothing happens,, then its stone of some type !!

[greenacres]

I did think it look like it was already tested. If you blow the photo up it looks like a pin mark. I have alabaster and I looked real close and it didn't really look right the statue.