Scoop

I've got it, Steph....

Joe!! You are AWESOME!!! Thanks so much for all that work. You do a GREAT job!!! (Does everyone realize how much freakin' WORK that is??) Hey Di, hope your dug out!!! Maybe, if I start now, I can pull off the August show?? We'll talk in June!!!

Your right on all counts, Delbert... But, I don't think any of those points are as important as the piece itself. It is beautifully crafted, definitely old, certainly a "bowling thing" and silver in basic color... Had he said "sterling," that would be far more wrong... I think Masonic is a definite error... But, it's not gonna fool any of the Masonic collectors!! With bids on it, it's too late to change that, now... Dustin (not to be confused with my son Dustin, who I've mentioned lately in other posts) is a good guy... I'm sure his intent was honorable. When this sells, it won't be for any of those reasons. It will be for it's amazing appeal to both marble and watch fob collectors. And, it should be at a price that won't be in the league of a newbie making a mistake... Although... There certainly seems to be someone out there spending HUGE money on marble stuff that a pro would run from!!! LOL

Cleveland could be a go... I think Southwest may have direct flights there, which means I could probably grab one for about $39.00.... But, then, it means getting a car, or transport to the show... CAK direct would be awesome!!! I could even do it for a day, if I had to. I think I can get a United, or Delta flight out of Manchester... I'm just not as tuned into their online specials. I'll have to tune in... Now that Dustin is flying in & out from DC, I'm getting more "air travel savvy!!" LOL

'Could be... But, I've seen 800 silver that looks a lot like that with age. Often used in Germany, especially for utilitarian, or high-wear items. Both fit pretty well for this item. If it's a zinc/copper alloy (German Silver) that could explain a single marking of the maker... Technically, still a hallmark / makers mark, that may be found at the silver marks site... They do try to cover a lot of bases, not JUST silver content.

WOW!!!! How incredibly COOL is that!!!

If we can get Southwest to fly into CAK, it could make a world of difference!! Next year, I'll watch the flight sales from MHT.... maybe it could work!!! ;-) Everything I ever hear about this show is GREAT!!! I'd love to make it...

Mmmmmmmmm, SWEET!!!

The Animal Rescue Site (One of the sister sites of the Hunger Site ) is running the "Shelter Challenge" contest again... Please consider voting for a local shelter... OR, your welcome to vote for the shelter I volunteer at!! (Salem Animal Rescue League / SARL) Here's a link to The Challenge!! PS. Remember, it only takes a few more seconds to click on ALL of the Hunger Site's sisters!!! Sponsors offer some really cool gift ideas!!!

Wooooo Hooooo!!!! Nuthin' better than a birthday on Saturday night!!! Party Hardy, Ant!!

Hey Roger!!! Nice to see the blue bird around!!! LOL I was really skeptical about the ox.... But yeah, when I opened that third picture, it sure looks like it's there!! It also looks as if you could scrape / chip off some of that red and find an ox stripe underneath... Ya might not wanna do that, though!!! ROFLMAO

Thanks Ric!! When I searched I added completed items. I thought it would include current items too!! Dustin, that is really wonderful... And, based on what I've seen, the price isn't out of line.... No... I don't see a single indication of Masonic, unless it's in that little mark. The mark isn't a typical familiar hallmark to me... So, it might take some diggin' to find out where it's from and the grade of the metal... It may just need polishing, but it doesn't look as high as sterling. For "wear" purposes, it may be a lower silver count, but the quality makes up for that!! Here's a great site for researching marks... Encyclopedia of Silver Marks Very early Masonic stuff is secretly marked... Could this be one of those marks?? I dunno... But, it doesn't really look it...

Hey Dustin, that thing is AWESOME!!!! It's probably out of my price range, too... But, I'd like to see more of it. I didn't find the listing. Can you tell us the auction # or post a link?

ROFL!!! Lou, we're sorry.... This is ALL Dustin's fault!!!! Aside from loving the whole environment of George Washington University, the climate of DC appealed to him MUCH more than the icy slush of Beacon St. at BU (His final 2 choices...) A few weeks ago, when our temps were down to single digits, he was calling to say how nice it was down there.... He shouldn't oughta done that...... LOL I remember "frosticles!!!" We had an English Setter during the blizzard of '78!! I imagine, it's much easier on a "girl dog" though..... LOL Hell, we didn't even get that!!! Next week is school vacation for the NE yuppy states (Mass, Conn, NY) Our ski areas are probably worried... David... Go for altitude!!! I have Cloudcroft on my "retirement location" list!!!

Good Catch, Ziggy!! Do they do that exact style?? The blue lutz in the link below is pretty close... I saw one very similar at the NE show, by an American artist (I didn't buy it, went back to buy it and it was gone... I've always regretted it... ) It was before I'd really gotten into contemporaries and I don't remember who the artist was.... Never seen another just like it. Location-wise, Teign Valley would make sense... Teign Valley at House of Marbles At any rate.... Someone must have tipped the seller off. He ended the auction... Multi-lobed marble auction I'd still like to see it in-hand....

NO WAY!!!! LOL But, I think there are some really old wooden salt water ones that run 8" or so, maybe 1½ - 2" thick... Lots of 'em are big bucks... But... If you can find some that are beat to hell, clean 'em up, repaint 'em??? Hmmmmmmmm.... Think of the "security advantages!!!" ROFLMAO!!! Steve.......... That was bad..... LOL

Too Cool, Griff!!! Weren't some of the big old salt water lures made out of wood?? Hmmmmm.....

Hey... WHOA!!! Don't foget Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton (even though he's gone soft...) As long as you're going younger to Jack white, don't forget Johnny Marr and Tom Morello!!

I was cleaning kennels during most of the game Sunday night, so I missed the commercials... I am catchin' up on the internet, though..... So far, this seems most appropriate!! Smart Dog!!

Steph, that site looks cool!!! Maybe I'll have to break down and start paying attention to Facebook!!! LOL (I'm NEVER gonna get my work done!!! LOL )

I wonder the same thing... I know there's speculation on the multi-lobed... I've seen marbles like this that were vintage and I've seen them as contemporary. Based on what's visible in the pictures, I think I'd lean towards vintage over contemporary... I think, any contemporary artist who is capable of that quality of work, would be more precise in the centering symmetry of the core... The feedback of the seller shows this is not their usual type of product... It looks to me as if they are selling these for someone else. Or, they happened across them in a random way. Old or new, I'd like to run across that lobed one in random way....

I'll check it out tomorrow, Steph (uhhhh, I guess that would be later today... ) I've been checking in here pretty regularly, but I haven't been into GA much, for a while... Too many boards, too little time!! LOL It may be interesting to watch the feedback for this auction... I'm REALLY hoping these buyers aren't walking away from these transactions satisfied...

100% FAKAROONY!!!!! I really don't like to put up comparisons like this, for fear they end up as a "How to improve your china marble painting guide..." But, once in a while, we've gotta do it for the right educational reasons... LOL Due to the brightness and wear, even my picture doesn't really show how incredibly precise and even the horizontal lines of an old china are... I don't know how they did it. But, they are dead straight and even.

I joined Facebook to see some pictures my sister had on from a trip... I've added some people and I've missed some people... But, in general, I never go there!! So, if I don't respond to something there, I probably haven't seen it...

Yeahhh!!!! Even though I don't make it over to Marble Mental as much as I'd like, I'm really happy to hear that Elizabeth is doing well and the board is back!!!