Antique-shop.com

Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: KevinM on May 25, 2013, 06:53:17 PM

Title: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: KevinM on May 25, 2013, 06:53:17 PM
This is a recent purchase of what I think is a Chinese stone carved dragon candle holder but I'm not sure if that's what it is or of it's age. I've searched for similar ones without success.

It's about 6 Inches in height and about 5 Inches wide from one dragon head to the other measured on the outside. It weights about 1 pound 7 ounces.

Does anyone have an idea if it is Chinese, what type of stone it was possibly made from and about how old it might be?

Thanks!
Kevin

(http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3752/dragonsg.jpg)
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: mart on May 25, 2013, 08:21:43 PM
It does look Chinese,, are you sure its stone ??  Kind of odd to me that carved stone would have attached legs !!  But this is not my area you know !!
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: bigwull on May 26, 2013, 03:18:14 AM
have you done the hot pin test...if it passed that, then it could well be soapstone....how does it feel to the touch,..soapstone, has a soft,almost as if its covered in talc feel about it,candle holder, or incense burner....
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: KevinM on May 26, 2013, 07:14:22 AM
Mart, it's definitely stone and hand carved. Good eye on the legs, they are attached.

Bigwull, I tried the hot pin test, it does not melt, could be soapstone. It feels cold and heavy to the touch. It's a white, almost opaque stone that has been coated with some kind off brown resin or something so you can't feel the stone to the touch.
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: bigwull on May 26, 2013, 08:30:41 AM
More than likely soapstone, that has been given the old age treatment...
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: KevinM on May 26, 2013, 09:13:05 AM
yep, probably, thanks...
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: mart on May 26, 2013, 01:29:56 PM
Would agree with that !! Trying to make it look like something it isn`t !!
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: fancypants on May 26, 2013, 01:45:18 PM
Alabaster would be another possibility , stone-wise .
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: KevinM on May 26, 2013, 07:20:27 PM
fancypants, funny you should say alabaster, that's what I thought it was when I bought it. Could be alabaster.
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: mart on May 26, 2013, 08:04:02 PM
Why on earth would one color or dye alabaster ???
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: KevinM on May 26, 2013, 08:34:42 PM
Probably to make it look more aged...
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: ghopper1924 on May 27, 2013, 07:21:57 AM
The Chinese like to age new items by placing them in a river for a few days.
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: bigwull on May 27, 2013, 01:47:36 PM
Quote from: ghopper1924 on May 27, 2013, 07:21:57 AM
The Chinese like to age new items by placing them in a river for a few days.
Last time i was in a river...I came out bloody freezing.... ;D
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: ghopper1924 on May 27, 2013, 02:16:09 PM
So are you saying you've been artificially aged? That your natural appearance is much younger?

Or perhaps you're saying "that water was COLD" as an explanation? You know what I'm saying.....
Title: Re: Vintage Chinese Stone Carved Dragons?
Post by: bigwull on May 27, 2013, 03:43:26 PM
Sometimes i wonder about you...... ;D