Featured Questions: Filgree scrimshaw bracelet marked "CHINA SILVER"

Look at this Chinese panel bracelet - see how uneven the color is on the panels? This appears to be genuine bone.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/239475...OZO_hf6lPP9hAZmdxLI3cNadHBhmswiztEaAh858P8HAQ

 

That's helpful. Thank you, Bev. And I gather resin would be capable of cracking like this?

 

Giving this a BUMP in hopes of an answer to my question regarding whether resin would be likely to crack, as one of these has...

 

It can but much less likely to do so

The crack shown looks consistent with bone and of an older nature

 

Thank you, Terry. I appreciate that. Except that I'm getting the understanding that bone would not be solid in color, but would show uneven color. Any thoughts on that?

 

bone carving NZ..
depends were the bone comes from...sometimes it's clean and has no lines...

 

Aloha, and thank you for that!

 

bone for carving......looks pretty clean....

 

Indeed it does. Thanks!

 

I've just returned from Muller's in Hamburg, PA. We didn't do the damaging test, but they agree that it does not contain silver. They also agree the material is likely to be bone. Basically, it has no value except for aesthetic. But it really is a lovely piece, with fine filigree work.

I'm planning to schedule a listing for Monday, the 25th (in time for Valentine gifts). So the new question is what price to list it for. If an item is choice, I tend to start low—9.99—and let demand drive the price up. But this ended listing gives me pause:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Antique...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Any suggestions? Oh, and does a BIN carry a fee?

Thanks!

 

It is hand made - whether in 1920 or 2010

Your link looks like one I sold a year or two ago which was actually on steel - magnetic. I stated that in my listing and was still able to get it bid up to about sixty bucks.

 

Thanks, Terry. We tested and it's not magnetic.

Did you start yours as low as 9.99? And do you know if there's a fee for Buy It Now listings?

 

If you do auction with buy it now it's an added fee of a quarter or so. If you list buy it now fixed price there isn't an extra charge.

 

How did they decide it wasn't silver without testing? And if they're saying non precious metal jewellery has no value bar aesthetic, that's a bit off. For a start, serious designer name silver jewellery can have minimal scrap value, but massive sale value.

 

Thanks again, Terry.

Owned: It's true, they didn't know for sure. But I was just reluctant to test it, and they understood. And I said it wrong (put words in their mouth). We agreed that it has value as a beautiful piece with some age to it. Thank you for weighing in!

 

I've had bone beads that looked pretty consistent in coloring.

Whatever the materials and age, I think the bracelet is lovely.

 

Ah, OK, northern, that makes sense. Thank you. I think and hope it ought to do rather well.

 

I've gone ahead and scheduled the listing for Monday, Jan. 25. I listed it at $9.99 with a BIN of $99.99. I got some better photos too. But I remain unsure about pricing it. Any suggestions?

 

if you're content with $100.....or the likelyhood of less.....then your fine..

 

Thanks for that. But do you suppose I could get more? Should I aim higher?