Featured What Is This Stone

What't the type of stone? Natural or dyed?
Thanks

 

Looks like a Dendritic Agate and may be dyed.

 

I think some type of plumed agate - there are many varieties and a much more proficient rockhound than I may be able to point you to something more specific.

Just wanted to add that the coloring looks natural to me. Maybe something from the US Southwest or even Northwest - Arizona/Utah or maybe Idaho/Oregon.

 

With that salmon, probably northwest?

 

Yes! I didn't even look twice to see what kind of fish was on there - silly me

 

Scottish. I've forgotten the name. Bother.

 

Came from a bolo tie.

 

I think that more solidly puts it in the western U.S. - and as was mentioned by AJ - the salmon probably indicates northwest. If I was forced to make a guess I'd say it came from eastern Oregon. You can buy these types of things in western clothing shops all over out there. Pinning down the exact source of the agate is a bit trickier but a rockhound from out west may recognize it.

 

I'm not actually sure that is a salmon...could be anything if you ask me....bass, perch.....dorsal fin doesn't look right for salmon.
I imagine bolo-tie parts and cast fish are readily available to rockhounds, and lapidary fans; and it could be that one of them polished a nice agate cabochon and put the tie together, rather than being commercially-made. And could be made almost anywhere, IMHO.

 

I say Ling Cod not salmon. Salmon don't have those typed fins. Ling cod top fin goes all the way to the back of the tail. Could be Alaskan made.
Salmon ;

Ling Cod:

 

Now, see, to me, it looks typical Scottish salmon! Yum.

 

I agree with yum, but from a Scottish bolo tie?

 

Thinking that this could be a Scottish Salmon as well as any other fish. Impressed with folks knowledge of fish!

From the looks of the base metal setting of this piece, it would have been almost certainly been an inexpensive tourist item, probably in the 1960's-70s plus or minus. I doubt much thought was put into what exact type of fish went on there. Even though it probably wound up in a gift shop in the western U.S., the glued-on fish decoration part of this could have easily been made in Japan.

 

Scottish salmon is nothing more than Atlantic Salmon that is farm raised in Scotland. And alot of people say it isn't that good for you as being farm raised the fish are fed dyed food pellets so it's flesh acquires that reddish salmon hue.

 

Um, no. The best salmon you buy here is wild salmon, not farm raised. Dye pellets are illegal. Even the farmed fish are premium over and above non Scottish ones.

 

I still think the dorsal fin is too big for a salmon, and I don't see the kind of dorsal fin found on a cod; but I'm more than ever sure this is made from a bolo kit by a rockhound or other amateur. Cast fish of whatever species are readily available, and gluing to the stone would be a common method for an artisan-made product.
Compare this bolo slide, available in gold or silver, sold to the trade at https://eloxite.com/collections/bola-1/products/bola-slide-30mm?variant=858179549

Add your own stone and a fish of your choice, and some woven leather cords and tips (from https://eloxite.com/collections/bola-1?page=2 ) and Bob's your uncle.

 

Here in Europe you always have a choice between wild and farm raised salmon. The main countries for both wild and farmed salmon are Scotland and Norway.
As Obb said, dyed pellets are illegal here in Europe.