Featured Finds Thread

Thanks! Have been on a bit of a roll. The ring was a bit of a hunch since it was unmarked. It just seemed right. Have picked up some run-of-the-mill furniture as well but it is the bread and butter of what I sell. This kind of stuff is much more fun.

 

The iris prints are by Robert White. His signature is a mess on these but I guess that is the norm for him. He is a listed artist but his prints don't sell too well. I knew this since I already have a rose print in the store that I have been trying to sell for ever. I may just end up using these for the frames.

 

I hate to say it, but you're probably right on those prints. They look like 80s Decorator pieces to me. They'd be nice in a little girl's room, but only if they're not faded. As for that ring...score! If that's a natural star ruby it's worth a lot more than scrap. It doesn't look like a big one, the ring is about a size 4 (WAG) so it's a quarter carat give or take? It might be worth selling as is, since it's a vintage ring. Small ones always sell for me. People with little fingers have as hard a time finding things to fit as people with big ones.

 

Ummm, looks like a red Star Sapphire to me.
my dad's dad wore a nice blue one ....that got away from me when my cousin raided his home before anyone else could ask for a thing......Grrrrrrrr !!!!

 

Rubies and sapphires are the same stone, just with different trace minerals.

 

This weekend it was dead out there. No estate sales, obviously no church sales. No nothing much. So I went to an antique store where I've hit in the past. And found....
Lousy light, but five sets of worry/prayer beads, one carved bangle of unknown plastic (not bakelite), one full set of copper pin earrings and buttons, Venetian wedding cake bead necklae and bracelet, and a whole cuff link/men's stuff box. There was one set of unmarked sterling cuff links and what I think are two 10k fronted tie clips. The backs are from one of the Attleboro factories. The worry beads are all sterling except one costume/nickel string. The copper pin is Renoir. The copper set is hand made and alas unsigned. I think the silver part is sterling. Total cost - $100. Not great but not bad.


One reason for the lousy photo - Queen Louise of Lemmeout was riding my case at the time. Literally - that's my gray sweatshirt in the photo.

 

So a star sapphire is the same as a star ruby....
Well , I didn't know that....but now thanks to you I know it for a fact !

The new things I learn here are great !

 

Check out 'corundum'

 

Love the Japanese print, Brad. Good for you, never pass up that free stuff!

 

Brad, it looks like a Linde star sapphire. I wouldn't scrap it.....

 

Why?
Sapphires & rubies are the same stone , just with different trace materials.
I know that now .

 

Could be a ruby....I'm told they're almost the same stone.

 

Just found more info on this artist. She was a Worthy Matron O.E.S with the Martha Chapter in Washington DC in 1916.

I read a Worthy Matron was the leader of that chapter, just like a WM.

That's pretty cool info.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1915-08-15/ed-1/seq-18/

 

Linde stars are synthetic, but high quality. They can be worth a decent amount in their own right.

 

I love the Venetian wedding cake beads. You would probably make your initial purchase price back (and more) from them. Linde star sapphires are synthetic, but people do buy them. I like them and have several in my collection. I like the way the star is very clear and how it moves. There are many more blue ones than red/pink ones. Check out that famous auction site that starts with an E.

 

I believe the saphire is synthetic. It is only 5 mm (3/16") diameter so doubt it has much value. As I said above, about 2/3 of the top of the ring has been sawed out to make the ring smaller. Only the shank is left on the one side that you really can't see in the pic. It was never soldered together so there is this awkward rough slit at the top of the ring where the two sides meet. It is all quite crude so I can't think this has jewelry value unless it is reworked properly. Weight is only 3.5 g. so not really worth messing with. Good scrap buy but not worth having it fixed.

 

What I find confusing is that the website for Martha Chapter No.4, says it was established in 1924. In the article listed above, it's dated 1916. I wonder why there is a difference in dates. It clearly states that The Eastern Star was honoring Worthy Matron Anna Harvey of the Martha Chapter No.4 O.E.S, Order of Eastern Star.

 

I contacted Martha Chapter No.4 O.E.S for further information about Mrs. Harvey and hopefully they have some information about Mr. Harvey.

By what I've read, it appears that Anna could not be part of the Eastern Star if her husband wasn't a Master Mason.

 

Nice finds everyone.

I really enjoy the simplicity of this Dutch or Belgium decorated Art Nouveau or Deco plate...

 

WOW, a free Toro mower? I had two in my life,1st was stolen, very easy to use.

Greay finds everyone.