are these 'sparkly bits' on this 1950s purse Marcasite?

Oh I love games! Could you use a magnet to determine if they're steel? I'll say cut steel and raise you all $5. :USING:
 
I've got my game on! Money is on the table baby. I have a different opinion on the cut steel issue. From my experience, cut steel is individually cut "stones" which are then individually set in tiny prongs or set in "wells", just like marcasites. That is what can make them so hard to figure from a photo. Pressed steel is different....it often has faceted tops that make it look like cut steel.... until you look close and see it is all 1 piece of pressed metal. I see a lot of dealers calling their antique pressed steel buckles as "cut steel" but they are really not.

Maybe different countries use different terms?
 
:hysterical:Ok, I nearly spewed my latte macchiato all over my PC.... looking forward to see who wins the bet :). I admit I haven't a clue! For me anything like this would be "marcasites". Didn't know it could also be hematite, though, thinking of it, it makes perfect sense! Re. cut steel, I had always thought that that was older and looked less... ah, sparkly? I remember my friend buying cut steel shoe buckles (ca. 1900 or maybe even older) at a flea market and explaining that to me. Of course the "stones" were also quite a bit bigger because they were shoe buckles.

Karin
 
My camera has it's close up limitations but I tried to take a few under a brighter light to see if it could shed some.
 

Attachments

  • furfaultsand marcasite 009.jpg
    furfaultsand marcasite 009.jpg
    161.9 KB · Views: 346
  • furfaultsand marcasite 011.jpg
    furfaultsand marcasite 011.jpg
    199.5 KB · Views: 399
  • furfaultsand marcasite 013.jpg
    furfaultsand marcasite 013.jpg
    175.4 KB · Views: 349
  • furfaultsand marcasite 014.jpg
    furfaultsand marcasite 014.jpg
    155.8 KB · Views: 355
the photos do not reflect just how sparkly they are...with a lot of blue and pinky reflected light.
 
at the risk of photo overkill I took some outside just now....lets you see the setting a bit better
 

Attachments

  • more 001.jpg
    more 001.jpg
    192.9 KB · Views: 382
  • more 003.jpg
    more 003.jpg
    151.4 KB · Views: 347
Alrighty then! I'd say our odds are better than Vegas, so Rita, I'll match your $5 and a Snickers bar (since there's still one left), and Barbara I'll raise another dollar on you. So let's go hog wild and bet the full $3!

We're still waiting on Julie to see if she's in, because another 2 bucks and I can buy a Maximo Macchiato Extra-ordinato with Madagascar Vanilla Bean Cream at Starbucks. You in Karin? ;) Great photos Lauren.
 
Ok--I am a flip-flopper. Agree-these are marcasites. The age of the bag and the uniform cuts of the stones make me think so.
Do I have to pay twice now??? :hysterical:
 
Now how did you know I loved Snickers bars Laura?

I call, want that chocolate bar...
 
I fold - well there goes $7 and a snickers bar - thanks a lot Laura.

I swear she had an ace up her sleeve.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top