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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bronwen, post: 695144, member: 5833&quot;]Not much.&nbsp; They are fragile &amp; seem to be prone to crumbling a bit at the edges without trauma.&nbsp; Not much different from dried, unfired clay, really.&nbsp; The way they look on the back says to me the mold is filled with the mineral solution &amp; allowed to dry:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://cameotimes.com/images/Materials/Dripstone/DripstoneDepression.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="https://cameotimes.com/images/Materials/Dripstone/DripstoneCrystals.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>If the drying were helped by time in an oven, don&#039;t think you would get so much settling of the particles or the crystals some develop.&nbsp; The particles of the top layer are very fine; I imagine they would compact down tightly.</p><p><br /></p><p>For those who want to know more about the process of making these, <a href="https://cameotimes.com/index.php/component/content/article/112-reference/115-fontaines-petrifiantes-technique" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://cameotimes.com/index.php/component/content/article/112-reference/115-fontaines-petrifiantes-technique" rel="nofollow">the details Jivvy read to Mr. J. are here</a>.&nbsp; I have never encountered, maybe because I have never looked for, one of their &#039;encrusted&#039; pieces.&nbsp; They used the process on everything, including taxidermied animals they would describe as &#039;fossilized&#039;.&nbsp; (OK Jivvy, a new quest for you.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Now that I&#039;ve pulled out one of mine, I see I have a challenge: the bezel &amp; frame are a lovely shade of turquoise, while the shank of the ring &amp; the supporting undercarriage have not oxidized.&nbsp; Unmarked, but must be low karat gold attached to brass; didn&#039;t know this was ever done.&nbsp; How to get rid of the verdigris?&nbsp; Can&#039;t use anything acidic; don&#039;t even dare soak it in plain water for any length of time.&nbsp; Can scrape some off with fingernail.&nbsp; Water on a swab to get at the rest?&nbsp; If cleaned off, won&#039;t it develop again?&nbsp; Leave it, since won&#039;t affect the gold or the cameo itself?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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