What the heck are these? Amber something?

Saw these at a local flea market. Really wish I had asked what they are. No one, even older relatives and antiquer friends, seems to know.

They were $300 for the set. Looks like some kind of little pictures encased in Amber on a stand. They're short, like 1-2" high. What could they possibly be used for? Help!

Image: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxiPfC8-wKM9WlgzRFVTRGFmWDQ

 

Hello there!

I'm not familiar with these, but here's my guess ...
Try Googling intaglio place card holders
https://www.google.com/search?q=int...niv&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiluLH3q63LAhUHXR4KHT3vDps

 

No expertise regarding your concern, but... hola, welcome to the Forums.

 

Quirkygirl, that is a great link. Oh such pretties.

 

Welcome!

I was also thinking placeholders. It's possible the amber substance is either glass or celluloid, an early plastic.

 

Looks kinda like the exact same set start bid $125. On Eboo. I'm pretty sure these are 21st. C. Production, and are probably still being mass-produced.

Item 201534336047

 

They are Czech glass, and come in different colors, themes and settings - I think these are Terpischore theme (Dance).

Some can be valuable, I believe... But, that's very high priced for a flea!

Try "czech intaglio name card holders" on pinterest - wow!

 

Correction: As Wink mentions below I posted inaccurate info on this item. Also ignore my post above.

 

Hey Spring - not sure what you think you know about these, but they are circa 1920s Czech glass place card holders in stamped brass bases, there are different styles too, and they're not uncommon, but that doesn't negate their age. I've sold a few and have seen them on the secondary market for well over 40 years (my Mom collects intaglio salts/ashtrays). Not unusual to see Czech glass bits on their own, may even have been wholesaled out - they have been reproducing Czech glass buttons, cabochons, perfumes, etc. from original molds for quite a few years now, but can't recall seeing these or the salts/ashtrays in any catalogs or sites.

These pics show better detail, including the underside of the base: https://www.etsy.com/listing/128863113/reserved-for-gale-vintage-czech-amber

~Cheryl

 

Hey, thanks, all. Very interesting. I would've never imagined that's what they were for.

And yeah, sounds like they were perhaps a bit overpriced at the flea market I was at. I kind of got the feeling nearly everything there was, though. It was the "Big Flea" that I think travels around and was hosted at the Dulles Expo Center this weekend. Probably the booth space is so expensive that people had to jack up their prices.

 

Wildly overpriced, but nice.

 

Sniped by DragonFlyWink!!!!!! Great find!!!! Wish someone would have shown one with a card in it!!!!