Minnesota Marble Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 I acquired these a while back and need you creative thouights as to what the purpose was to make this cage-like frame around these sulphides. Were they used for Christmas tree decoration???...probably not because they are quite heavy....perhaps a rope like material was strung through the attached rings and hung in a window?. As you can see they display nicely in a pocket watch dome. I have been a gold smith for 30 years and I know good metal work and this is great metal work. There is no question as to them being original because of the patina the metal presents and the sulphides are wet mint without a scratch!!!!! Chime in on what your thoughts are!!! Minnesota Marble-Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobBlock Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 I think these have been described in the past as antique drapery weights. Attached to the bottoms of drapes to hold them in place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 so nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckEye Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Those are super cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg11 Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 I would be so tempted to take them out of the cage... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Marble Posted June 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 That`s a first for me but it really makes sense!...the drapery weight concept.... Maybe someone can find a picture...that would be great and I would frame it and set next to display. Yea I know what you mean about taking them out but that would be the end the historic record thus far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleus1 Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Very Cool! I know it was kidd'n/temptation to uncage. It never would have crossed my mind. The marble is still the marble, the cage is the exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Marble Posted June 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Very Cool! I know it was kidd'n/temptation to uncage. It never would have crossed my mind. The marble is still the marble, the cage is the exception. I know you were kidding but those things happen sometimes on the craziest rare stuff!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleus1 Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Possibly not clear on my post. Under No circumstances would I uncage those marbles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skycollect Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 I would drill them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn691500 Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Priceless artifacts,,,,,,,,, picture? Been doing this marble thing for a while and never even heard of them, a picture? no,,, maybe an old catalog would have them,,, so many things going on here, sulphide,surrounded by cage, and the huge bonus is their in colored glass, ya,, dream find, enjoy them,,, bj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstmmrbls Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Until I see a catalog picture or something like it for drapery weights that are for show I am not buying that story. Drapery weights were usually sewn into the drapes not to be seen. And still are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 What is the metal? Copper? Brass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleus1 Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 pretty fancy for something to be hid. http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/wall-decorations/decorative-art/antique-drapery-weights/id-f_348650/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killermarbles Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 I think they were custom made as a pull for a ceiling lamp or something similar. Anyways please count me in on this giveaway. :-)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg11 Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 If they were curtain tie backs you would assume clear would be the color choice. I think they are store display items. Hang them in the store front window and catch peoples attention... I still would take them apart... thats just me.. I like taking things apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Marble Posted June 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Steph They appear to me to be brass. They are pretty cool and I am very glad to share them with the group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmuehlba Posted June 25, 2014 Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Well before giving an option would need bigger pics but I remember some one having new colored ones made . so how about a lot of bigger pics I enlarged these but . not clear . also very good if you have some thing that has never been seen ever . some one did all this with a cat eye . Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Marble Posted June 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Mike, I have made silver bezels on several halves that are very similar to the pictures you sent. There is quite a bit difference in the age of what you posted and what I have. I don`t have an explanation as to the reason to go through all that work on a cat eye but I do this on handmade halves. I believe I have a finished one I can take a picture of.BRB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Marble Posted June 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 This is a maglite Indian 1/2 marble I made into a pendant with sterling silver. It is clearly newly made. The one`s I started this thread with and original and true handmade vintage sulphides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg11 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 anyone care to take a guess at the value with the cage and without the cage on these two premium mint examples? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleus1 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 better pics. would be nice. an a sulpide xpurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clydetul62 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Very nice Bernie. As to value? Since the metal is brass it may not add any extra value. Except as a novelty. The value is in the sulphides. A friend of mine found this agate. Caged around the equator so the bulls eye is seen on both sides . Definitely old. Size is 3/4". I am leaning toward as a pendant or part of a watch fob. The metal is gold. Tested at 10k I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Marble Posted June 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I would put 5 cents that the agate you just pictured is a watch fob. I have seen them occasionally. You are correct in that the brass metal adds no value and the sulphides are where the $ is.The brass value is zero but the execution and the type of marble adds multiple to the rarity. I put a value as just sulphides without the cage at $2,000.00 to $3000.00 each. To find a wet mint colored base sulphide with a super nice with the criteria listed below is quite a challenge!!!! I will justify my number now using "my" interpretation of value in any sulphide in my collection; 1-rarity of figure 2-the figures first are very well centered 3-both figures have much better than aveage detail-very nice crisp detail!!! 4-the figures have absolutely no bubble(s) present on the figure to obscure viewing 5-no cracks or missing parts of the figures 6-wet mint glass without even as much as light scratching 7-attractive base (matrix) color-good eye appeal 8-size is nice but average and adds no additional money to base value of previous standards(the only time this matters is if they are extremely large or extremely small) Greg11-the value with the cage is a VERY HARD ANSWER!!!!---not because they are mine but an honest opinion is-name your price! Marbleus1-tell me what pictures you would want and I will take and post....closer?...thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleus1 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 mostly, its the clarity of the glass.? the metal work seems to be the focus and shows well its age. the glass seems harder to get a good read on.? better detail, once you try to enlarge they get fuzzy er. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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