The End Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Hi, I could really use your guys help. I bought this item at an Estate auction and would like some help identifying. It was listed as beeswax at the auction but I thought it looked like Amber, so I bid and won it. Looks to have petrified wood at the top and debris inside. Nothing too cool, I didn't see any insects ect. I did a little research online and I have done the acetone test and the surface did not change at all. I also heated a needle red hot and did a puncture test. It smelled sweet with a hint of pine so it doesn't appear to be glass, resin or plastic. Those are the only tests I have done. I am by no means an expert. What do you guys think? Could this be Amber or Copal or is it some other material. If it is Amber or Copal any idea on value? Thanks, Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Perhaps Rosin for lubricating a bow for stringed instruments. It looks like it may have been previously attached to a handle or grip of some kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) Place a small drop of acetone on a polished area. Let it evaporate. Touch the spot with a tissue. If it's sticky, it's copal (or any other modern resin). True amber is impervious to the acetone. Sorry, I went back and read your entire post, not just the initial question. Passing the acetone tx and not smelling like burning plastic, strongly suggests amber - not copal or plastic. Does it take a static charge if rubbed with wool (try picking up tiny scraps of tissue)? Does it float in salt water? Does it glow under UV? Edited October 22, 2014 by snolly50 Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 When you did your puncture test, did it poke right through like hot butter, or was it highly resistant? A hot needle going through easily is copal, whileas if it takes quite alot of force to poke the needle through/or doesn't go through at all, its amber. Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The End Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 I would say it went in rather easy. The needle was very small though, like the size of a small safety pin. I was a little confused by this because I had heard if it went in easy it was Copal but the acetone test would suggest it is not. I'll try some of the other tests suggested. For the sake of argument if this is Copal and not Amber does it have any value? Thanks, Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I would say it went in rather easy. The needle was very small though, like the size of a small safety pin. I was a little confused by this because I had heard if it went in easy it was Copal but the acetone test would suggest it is not. I'll try some of the other tests suggested. For the sake of argument if this is Copal and not Amber does it have any value? Thanks, Don Copal will become tacky when exposed to acetone. Your piece did not - it's not copal. That is the generally accepted wisdom. Thus far, it is appearing that your piece is amber. Value? eBay offerings (the ones that sell) will provide a good indication of "what things are going for." Compare size and weight. However, you are at a disadvantage not knowing the origin of the piece. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmaier Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Perhaps Rosin for lubricating a bow for stringed instruments. It looks like it may have been previously attached to a handle or grip of some kind. Me thinkest this is not rosin for the bow, but rather a mounted portion of amber for the generation of that Imponderable Agent called Electricity. It is all the rage with B. Franklin and the bold professor in Italy name Galvani. This amber whenst mounted to a stick and rubbed onto woll, will create the electrical fluid and attract the electric of animal magnetism to it. http://www4.ncsu.edu/~kimler/hi322/electric.html Most excellent find, Sir Don. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Me thinkest this is not rosin for the bow, but rather a mounted portion of amber for the generation of that Imponderable Agent called Electricity. It is all the rage with B. Franklin and the bold professor in Italy name Galvani. This amber whenst mounted to a stick and rubbed onto woll, will create the electrical fluid and attract the electric of animal magnetism to it. http://www4.ncsu.edu/~kimler/hi322/electric.html Most excellent find, Sir Don. tmaier has raised an intriguing prospect regarding the object - fossil plus artifact. Does the hole extend completely through the object? Under magnification is there any evidence of tool marks inside? Is there any material visible in the hole, such as the "petrified wood" you cite? Amber and copal can certainly be shaped by pooling in a wood cavity. Inclusions such as sticks may create "tunnels" in a piece with the original occupant being lost. I guess now it would be best for you to evaluate the possibility of a human's influence on the object. To start, tool marks? unnatural symmetry? are the ones I can think of. It would be a far more interesting piece, if that proved true. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmaier Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Benjamin Franklin, that primitive yet brilliant Scientist from the American colonies, tried to combine his love for electrical experimentation with his other great love of throwing parties. He contrived a contraption to electrocute a turkey by having the turkey stand on a metal plate, whilst an electrode attached to Leyden jars was slowly lowered towards the turkey's head. Sir Franklin made the mistake of stepping into the plate to make some adjustments, and raised his head to the electrode, thus knocking himself unconscious with the shock of the electrical fluid! Further attempts to electrocute the turkey were unsuccessful. Lady DuBoius mis-read her invitation and thought she was going to a demonstration of Elocution, and was expecting a rousing recital of the new works of Voltaire! (I made up the part about elocution... it just seemed so right. All the rest is true.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now