Featured Is this wax or what?

I have this little Catholic bust.
The seller said it was alabaster but this is available in lots of other advertisements and it is either being called wax or chalkware wax.

I'm a bit confused it certainly feels very smooth and waxy and when I scratch the bottom it scratches very easily with just a blunt finger nail.
But it has a circular plug in the bottom which is definitely wax that's like wax out of a paraffin candle but that is very soft and is quite different to the rest of the statue.

It is signed CH Maillard.

I have taken a photo of it next to a statue that I know is alabaster.

Seems to me unlikely that there would be a lot of versions in wax and then an "alabaster" version that looks exactly the same. I did message the seller when it was in transit and said can they confirm it is alabaster given there are other materials looking exactly the same in this item and they said yes it is definitely alabaster.

What do people think because I need to seek a refund if it is wax because was much more expensive than the ones that are being sold as wax.

Mine is 16 cm high there are some shorter versions around

 

Stone dust held together with paraffin

 

When I scratched the bottom and then put the scratching between my teeth it kind of melted dissolved. No dustiness or grit that I could discern

 

I actually don't mind the piece and I was aware that it was 20C. But I don't want to pay alabaster price for wax. So I'm gathering evidence for a refund

 

What do you mean?

I actually want to edit the post title as it reads a bit impolite.
What I mean is is this wax or if not what is it?

 

Ok the seller is saying they "bought it as alabaster and the weight and coolness is definitely not wax"

How do I verify? Maybe the bottom is wax? It seems to scratch but the topside doesn't? What's the test?

 

This one here is waxed paper and also has the 'plug'
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/622...xternal=1&ref=pla_similar_listing_top-1&sts=1

Do you think mine is waxed plaster also?

 

sure looks the same.....& that would confirm the waxy residue...

 

I need something definitive I need to be careful when I go back because it looks like the person is going to try to argue to get out of it

 

it sounds like the seller is happy to offload his mistake on you , no matter what facts you present .

they say....
"bought it as alabaster and the weight and coolness is definitely not wax"

if you can show several of the same that are not alabaster...... best u can do !

some say resin, some wax.....

https://lens.google.com/search?ep=g...CU2EwaDRiR3BST0hJemVEZzBhRGhDWVhSb1p3PT0iXQ==

 

Sounds plausible, it certainly has a waxy look.

 

If you scroll all the way down, you'll find wax on plaster:
https://fresnocitysculpt.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/nos-surface-treatments.pdf

I don't know if that is how your Lady of Lourdes was finished, but it could be. They mention "the polished stone finish".

This one also has a photo of waxed plaster:
https://materializinginspiration.blogspot.com/2011/07/protective-wax-finish-for-plaster-of.html

 

Where there is a chip in one of the corners it kind of has a Stony feel it certainly looks like it could be plaster on that chip surface I will see if I can take a photo.

Here is a photo

 

I don't think it's going to be alabaster with that plug in the bottom. It looks cast and the hole suggests slip cast. I'm wondering if it might be cast plaster filled with paraffin to give it some strength and substance. Plaster is porous, so if it was filled with liquid wax, that might permeate the plaster shell and result in a waxy feel. But that's just conjecture.

 

Waxed plaster,weird-seems world's away from alabaster,but on further study-"The coarser varieties of gypsum alabaster are converted by calcination into plaster of Paris, and are sometimes known as "plaster stone".

 

I don't think that I would get away with that because the chip is kind of minor it's more about the fact that it's not actually alabaster is more important that's the thing that I need to make clear to the seller explain to them why it's not alibaster

 

Did you buy it on eBay? Can you show the listing? On eBay you can file as not as described.