kali_is_my_copilot
Sr. Member
- Feb 10, 2014
- 420
- 638
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
So I probably already snagged my best find for this weekend. Started at 8 at an estate sale that was on its second day. They had every last tiny piece of silver in the jewelry bins marked (except for maybe one, getting to that shortly) and priced fairly but still above what I will usually pay. Hemmed and hawed over a gorgeous sterling, shell & marcasite snuff/pill box priced at $20, ended up getting that and an odd old silver(?) snuff bottle priced at $5 for $20 total. Hit a couple of garage sales on my ~15 block trip home but came up empty, then scored four small bags of jewelry for a quarter each at a church rummage sale, which produced a pair of 14k hoop earrings (2.5g) and a sterling chain & charm.
Looked up the snuff box when I got home, it retails for $400 new! According to a snuff enthusiast site I visited, pieces by this silversmith (Ari Norman) are highly sought after, I'm hoping to get 150-200 out of it. The monkey snuff bottle is less straightforward, it tests as at least 800 or 900 silver but has an odd finish & brassy smell to it. Don't want to damage it with more invasive testing, and there is a hallmark but it's extremely worn and not in English. Will try and get a good picture of it up later today.
Looked up the snuff box when I got home, it retails for $400 new! According to a snuff enthusiast site I visited, pieces by this silversmith (Ari Norman) are highly sought after, I'm hoping to get 150-200 out of it. The monkey snuff bottle is less straightforward, it tests as at least 800 or 900 silver but has an odd finish & brassy smell to it. Don't want to damage it with more invasive testing, and there is a hallmark but it's extremely worn and not in English. Will try and get a good picture of it up later today.
