villagenut
Gold Member
Well, that's what I think it is anyways. Found it in a trash pit with other late 19th century artifacts. I just cannot see how it survived all that time in the ground, and then having me wiggle it out of the ground like I did. I would think it would be bakelite, but would have expected that composition to have crumbled. It is not plastic, I did the hot needle test, and while the needle did penetrate a hair (no pun intended) it gave no odor and did not melt. Just amazes me how some stuff comes out preserved and others fall apart...but that's how it goes.
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) and she straightened me out on that. I then did some research and that got me looking closer and sure nuff....tortoise shell, and genuine as well. That explains the good condition of it and when I put a light source behind it , it becomes somewhat mesmerizing, Pretty good find after all, and rare to dig one up I am sure.You can see all the intricacies of the hand carving. From what I have read, it could be from the 1860 time period as similar examples date from that period. Most were hair combs but this was a hair piece made to stand up and show off as the sunlight shined through it.
