California Sulfides

[Scoop]

In another thread, there was mention of California Sulfides.... Does anyone have any pictures or info on them??

My guess on the yellow mica sulfide in this post from Land of Marbles, would be a "yes..." I know there was colored glass and multiple figures, but I don't remember any mention of mica....

[marblemover]

here's an old thread with a link to pics of a likely suspect

[catfish]

There are a couple in the "Collecting Antique Marbles" book by Paul Baumann if I remember right.

[Scoop]

Check it out..... Somebody likes 'em!!

California Sea Horse

Thanks Lloyd!!

[greg11]

that yellow mica sulphide is superb, I would love to have that one.

[tankgrrl29]

i'm kinda surprised that seahorse didn't go for more, given its history

[Steph]

Lloyd, could you (or may we) upload the seahorse pix here, and the info about your research into the background?

Thanks.

Steph

[Scoop]

Lloyd sent these to me this morning... I presume it's OK to post them (Yes?)

Thanks Llloyd!!

[Steph]

Thanks Sue (and Lloyd). Here's the info from the listing, including a clarifying (and fascinating) Q&A exchange:

This Item is one of the Infamous CALIFORNIA SULPHIDES. This is Not an Antique German Marble.

The Figure is Carved with Fine Detail. There is a Light Amber Tint to the Base Glass.

The Marble is in Professionally Polished Condition.

The Marble Measures About 1 & 5/16 inches in Diameter.

This Well Known Marble is the One Pictured Above in Paul Baumann's Book: "COLLECTING ANTIQUE MARBLES".

This is the Specific Marble used by ANTIQUE COLLECTORS REPRODUCTION NEWS ACRN in Conducting Scientific Tests to Challenge the Age of These Contemporary Marbles.

------

Q: How do you know for sure that this is the one in the book? Thanks, Cyndie Dec-15-06

A: Hello Cyndie, This Marble was given to me by a collector of sulphides. He purchased it thinking it was an antique. I supplied the marble to Mark Chervanka at ACRN for testing. I was part of a group of advanced collectors that played an active part in exposing these marbles as contemporary as opposed to antique. Thank you, Lloyd Huffer

[Scoop]

I don't want to stretch my neck 1/32 of an inch into the battle over the "Exotics..."

But................... This glass testing firm that dated the sulphides might be an idea..................

[Steph]

this post from Land of Marbles

Note of potential interest: the land of marbles thread discusses blacklighting sulfides. Antique ones will have a mild to moderate vaseline glass glow. CA sulphides won't.

Also of potential interest: there are a couple of dramatic sets of before-and-after-polishing pix in that thread.

That was a look back ... just a couple of notes I wanted to add for my own future reference.

Now, I'm really interested in Sue's idea for highjacking the thread. Lloyd, how invasive are the tests ACRN performs? How conclusive? (and what would it take to get an exotic into their hands? )

[William Marbles]

color chaged glass

I was on ebay and seen this........... wonder if marbles were done like this.

Just thought it might have some useful info......

if not.......sorry for bumping the thread

William

[hrjane]

The process is/was used a lot in dishes/decorative glass, called "flash" color. Like the auction said, it is a fragile finish and prone to scratches and wear. It would not last long on a marble. They also have to have an unpainted area to stand in the oven/kiln (so they don't stick) or an uncolored punty pontil mark on a marble.