Antique Store Artifacts: ?? Authenticity ?? Once Again....

[OntarioArch]

A 'bannerstone' says the store owner, and a 'I don't know what it is' item. (the 'other' item is 9 inches long - looks like it may have a depression on one surface - a boatstone perhaps?) Better photos to come when I get a chance, but any first impressions? I certainly will travel the 45 minutes to view, hold, photograph these two items. Stay tuned!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

The top piece is most likely a Scythe Sharpener. Early settler.

The Bannerstone, without holding it I wouldn't have a clue from those two pictures. How much are the asking would be a clue. If in the high hundreds or maybe $1000 I would have it looked at before buying but it could be good. If less than $100 then it's either the deal of the century or they know it modern. It looks like Quartzite.

 

[OntarioArch]

Good info...thank you.

 

[arrow86]

Banner stone I would buy if it’s cheap just in case it’s the real deal do you mind posting the price ?

 

[OntarioArch]

Owner has very limited knowledge of NA artifacts....no price discussed. My plan is to offer to send it for COA from a top Eastern/Midwest guy....Mr. Bennett, or Mr. Dickinson, or Mr Frey. If a repro, I bought a COA, my modest loss. IF authenticated, I complete purchase at $xx.

Does the piece show too much symmetry, especially longitudinally? Bad...
Hole show any machine marks; any parallel, curving scratches? Bad...
Surface lack any mineralization? Bad....

Still not confident of avoiding a repro, will re-read a couple good articles on bannerstone authenticity. Basing a buying decision on the asking price assumes seller knows the market.....this seller has exactly two artifacts.....deals in mostly furniture, glassware.

How about .....$100 plus COA Costs?

Here's a start:

 

[arrow86]

Photos of the inside of the hole would help determine if drilled with modern drill but I’m sure there are still ways to deceive and make it look like the real thing .... see if there’s any patterns or rings on the inside even if it was a fake I would think 100$ is still a great price

 

[OntarioArch]

Patterns bad, but concentric rings, like from a hollow reed with sand, OK.

Right?

 

[jamus peek]

The top piece is most likely a Scythe Sharpener. Early settler.

The Bannerstone, without holding it I wouldn't have a clue from those two pictures. How much are the asking would be a clue. If in the high hundreds or maybe $1000 I would have it looked at before buying but it could be good. If less than $100 then it's either the deal of the century or they know it modern. It looks like Quartzite.

I'm sure you sharpen your scythe right before you log on just in case some rocks are posted. Ha ha couldn't resist.

Thanks for the info Grim learn something new here all the time.

 

[gilmerman]

Be careful, for me $100 would be a big loss to me.

 

[OntarioArch]

Be careful, for me $100 would be a big loss to me.

$100 only if authenticated.....

 

[joshuaream]

Welcome to roll the dice.

Steve is spot on with the sharpening stone.

On the bannerstone... I see a couple of things I like on that style of wing bannerstone if it’s from
the NY or east of the Midwest area. Not sure about the material, I can’t recall ever seeing one of that style in a light colored stone. I’d likely pass and hope it worked out for someone else.

One comment on your COA option, all three of the guys you mentioned would give an opinion I highly value, but not sure all of them do COAs for a fee. (They might, but it’s news to me.)

 

[OntarioArch]

One comment on your COA option, all three of the guys you mentioned would give an opinion I highly value, but not sure all of them do COAs for a fee. (They might, but it’s news to me.)

I appreciate your insight: I'm thinking.....

And By the way -








Frey, Dickinson, Bennett...from their web sites.