Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

Just throwing these up as grist for your mill.



I learned the name Reverchon from the first one; you can just see it on the truncation of the second one, which was sold by a German seller.

 

SIDEBAR: when researching "calcaire pétrifié," a working knowledge of the French language is a huge benefit.

I'M GUESSING.

 

okay, wow.

I have looked at a lot of limestone. Plus, French. I have looked at a lot of French.

Here's what I believe.

1. There are pieces of dripstone that look like carved marble.
   
2. There are pieces of dripstone that look like badly cast resin.
3. Dripstone is subject to some of the same casting flaws as other cast materials.
   
4. Considering the material, constant shuffling of molds, and length of time to complete a product (12-14 months), some types of flaws (e.g., "trapped air") seem unlikely. Product flaws that are caused by mold flaws (e.g., all those little balls we are eager to point out), "curing" practices (e.g. fissures), and damage on release from the mold seem likely.
   
5. Seeing the lack of finish work on some pieces, there's no question that quality commitment, methods, and know-how varied.
   
6. Dripstone backs are not always left natural. I believe sometimes a sealant is used. I believe sometimes polishing mechanisms are used. I believe sometimes back "humps" are sawn off so a picture can hang flat against the wall.

I believe that the flaws I see on BarnB, BlueB, and GreyLady, are all plausible casting flaws with dripstone.

I think it's plausible that all three are dripstone. Yes, I believe BlueB is dyed.

I really wish I'd bid on GreyLady.

I realize I haven't exactly written a defense of my position, but I'm done writing. Feel free to ask questions.

And here are some random pictures I looked at today:

 

Grandma was the coolest.

 

Just bought my first cameo. Guess what kind?

 

Unh-unh. The Calmady Children. See:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/numismatic-fraud-mystery.31383/

 

Should've gone with my gut to skip the ones with no back picture.

 

Plastic Ponytail Girl, she asks innocently?

 

It's as if we never met.

You know I am totally Team Headband Girl. *smdh*

 

I am totally lost in the past girl & don't speak Modern. Translate, svp.

 

Not sure if you meant this part: "*shaking my damn head*" or this part:

 

Opinions, please? Seller states "coral colored stone", "Victorian", and "pinchbeck or similar". Is any of that accurate?

 

Ponytail Girl has a name!
(Of course, I do realize that it's the company name but I think it suits her!)

 

That bit. Headband girl is all too familiar.

 

I have no hesitation in declaring the little face as genuine coral, within the range that most people would consider 'angel skin'. Like 'black stuff', it is very hard to know much about metals from photos alone. Don't think pinchbeck, which usually does a better job of staying gold colored. Whatever it is, even if gold washed silver, that part does not have much value on its own. Later than Victorian, going by hinge & clasp, but still vintage. I love the little coral element; cleaned up she'll be a gem.

 

I think she looks more like a Suzy, but we can call her Priscilla the Ponytail Girl.

 

Thank you! She's now mine, can't wait to receive her.

 

But her friends call her Priss.