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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,406 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
175 Posts |
I'm sure this will be of interest and I would love to know, is it Mica?   |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
I would guess that this is made out of some sort of resin
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Weird. I assume the Latin legend is meant to read "Darius, son of Hystaspes, king of Persia," who lived from 550 BCE to 486 BCE, before Latin as we know it existed. Before coats of arms, as well, though it was common a few centuries ago for folks to retroactively create arms for ancient personages (including Jesus!) Not sure what the IIII after REX means; there were only three Achaemenid kings of Persia by the name of Darius, and only the first was HIST FIL (son of Hystaspes).
Edited by philadelphian
02/13/2014 6:42 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2490 Posts |
This may belong to a rather odd and arcane chapter of Royal Arch Masonry.
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Moderator
 Australia
16826 Posts |
Quote:
is it Mica? I doubt it; it looks die-struck (or at least die-cast) and I don't think mica survives being struck. More likely some kind of early plastic, like celluloid, which would make it date sometime from 1880-1950. Perhaps it was entirely that yellow golden colour originally, making it look kind of like a gold coin. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Tortoiseshell or horn can also be carved, cameo-style. I found a few examples of Victorian and Baroque tortoiseshell medallions with a bust.
Geez, the Forum won't even let me write the word "t-o-r-t-o-i-s-e-s-h-e-l-l?" There is such a thing as TOO family-friendly!
Edited by philadelphian
02/13/2014 8:31 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3079 Posts |
Most definitely not mica, as it wouldn't take an impression, It was used for the windows in old time stoves, often called isenglass. Could be cast amber, as they still today melt resins and cast insects in it and sell it as real fossils. It can be colored from a golden yellow to dark almost black.
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
Edited by austrokiwi
02/14/2014 02:00 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Very funny, austrowiki  You weren't *that* fast. And we'll thank you to keep *those* types of words (and the opinion you stated with it) to yourself. As for our shell issue here, it was mistakenly generated; as you can see, it's been fixed. Carry on. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1584 Posts |
Quote:
OK Now I have to laugh at you Americans Not all Americans. Many Americans find this sort of thing silly too.  Edited by noD
02/14/2014 08:06 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3079 Posts |
Yes looking at it again it does appear that it might be tortoiseshell. In 1973, the trade of tortoiseshell worldwide was banned under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) The laws on owning the material that they are ambiguous enough that owning anything made from it even Pre CITIES(1973)can be considered breaking the law! Even with the ban the Chinese are still making guitar pics from it. And it is almost impossible tell if it is a fresh kill or a reworked item.
That being as it may, yes the shell can be boiled/softened and then imprinted/stamped
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,406 |
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Posted 02/13/2014 6:10 pm
