metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 30, 2016 18:42:26 GMT -5
There's no doubt I'll be making some more Whitby Jet cabs Some others still need finishing, yet, but to bring some recent and new works together for starters... A tiny Whitby Jet cabochon just 11.5 x 7.5mm Fit for a ring ... The first image after the calipers shows the cab after the first polish: some rouge and scratches still present: back to the polish. <old pictures> Preserving the Araucaria striations <old pictures> <old pictures> Perfectly apt for this gemstone, traditionally used for mourning jewellery - but its post modern usage has gained popularity with followers of gothic fashions who attend Whitby Abbey to celebrate (the fiction of) Dracula. This cabochon is stunningly polished. It's difficult to say whether this outshines the Mrs' Thigh Length Patent Leather boots!! Whitby Jet tear-drop cabochon <old pictures> Whitby Jet earring cabochon duo <old pictures> Whitby Jet pendant cabochon <old pictures> <old pictures> Whitby Jet rough <old pictures>
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Post by albionfireandice on Oct 1, 2016 8:31:48 GMT -5
Do you self collect? I haven't been to Whitby in a year or two - the last time I visited was the day after that big flood that knocked out the life guard station and flooded some of the town. Managed to grab two fairly big pieces, although I didn't do anything with them.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 1, 2016 10:54:46 GMT -5
Do you self collect? I haven't been to Whitby in a year or two - the last time I visited was the day after that big flood that knocked out the life guard station and flooded some of the town. Managed to grab two fairly big pieces, although I didn't do anything with them. I do, although with one thing or another haven't been able to do so for a few years, until earlier this summer. Anyway, Ebay tells me others have had more success than me! Lucky for me they don't do anything with it and for what I pay, it must nearly cover their fuel for a day out which I don't mind.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 1, 2016 11:09:16 GMT -5
Very nice! I'm assuming you did these by hand? I had a friend in the UK who sent me a few pieces. I think I still have a small piece somewhere. To me, the jet has a real romance to it.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 1, 2016 13:40:27 GMT -5
Very nice! I'm assuming you did these by hand? I had a friend in the UK who sent me a few pieces. I think I still have a small piece somewhere. To me, the jet has a real romance to it. I run a small variable-speed bench-grinder with a pendant. They were polished with that using tripoli and rouge. Polishing seems to be in keeping with silver - just when you think you're done with the tripoli, the rouge shows all the remaining scratches and you have to back-track. After 3 iterations I thought I was done - then the photos showed some rouge remaining. Yes, the curse of digital photographs catches everyone. In fact I think that the digital photography test should be part of our standard prep / QA. When I cleaned off the leftover rouge, and with the benefit of daylight there were more scratches left and I had another cycle to do. They're gleaming now though I'm interested that you consider it romantic: it was the mourning jewellery of the Victorians, made fashionable by Queen Victoria when Albert died, she wore it in memory. Of course that was love lost. The internet tells me Albert died in 1861. Albert died at the age of 42 - it was generally thought he died of typhoid, but recent theory is that he suffered from Crohn's. However, Typhoid was rife and indiscriminate at the time; most of the population were dead at an earlier age and you only made it into your 40's if you were gentry. The issue of sanitation was raised and addressed during the reign of Queen Victoria, which is probably why she lived to such a ripe old age. The history of sewerage was documented by an ex-colleague of mine - see the fourth link below for a remarkable if lengthy read. Victoria wore jet for 40 years until her death in 1901. Her instructions were for her funeral to be white. Victoria & Albert-a fresh perspectivelengthy Wikipedia articleCrohn's theory linkSewerage in Leeds - David Sellars - link
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Erich
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2015
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Post by Erich on Oct 1, 2016 17:37:58 GMT -5
Interesting reads on your links and like the Jet!
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Post by orrum on Oct 1, 2016 18:22:09 GMT -5
I thought jet was a form of voal?
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Post by orrum on Oct 1, 2016 18:22:20 GMT -5
I thought jet was a form of voal?
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Post by orrum on Oct 1, 2016 18:22:39 GMT -5
Coal not voal!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 2, 2016 1:23:01 GMT -5
Hahah Yes, it is a sub-type of lignite - a fossil of Araucaria sp. trees (modern day monkey-puzzle). Its compact nature and ability to be worked to fine carvings and take a very high polish mean that it is a prized gemstone. I also don't think it burns very well It can also be found in France, Portugal, the Russian Urals and parts of the US. Wikipediaglennz01 might be interested that "Anthracite (hard coal) is superficially similar to fine jet, and has been used to imitate it. This imitation are not always easy to distinguish from real jet". From Wikipedia as above.
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Post by orrum on Oct 2, 2016 3:15:45 GMT -5
Cool coal info!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 8, 2016 15:00:47 GMT -5
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metalsmith
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Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 31, 2016 12:49:34 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 31, 2016 16:46:40 GMT -5
Like the word 'Whitby'. Sounds totally British. Cool stone that jet. Lots of history.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 31, 2016 19:53:15 GMT -5
I would have liked to think it was all straight forwards, maybe White Bay. I'm still not entirely convinced as Hvit is white in Norwegian and probably other Scandinavian languages / Danish too. Whether Hvit was named for his white hair / beard or the bay he inhabited, who knows. A link for those interested ... yes there's some history! It's now 2017 here. Hope you all have a good one! Whitby - place name
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 1, 2017 5:45:06 GMT -5
Lots of Viking influence in Brit language. Never knew. Happy New Year !!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 1, 2017 13:35:26 GMT -5
Happy New Year!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 1, 2017 14:29:13 GMT -5
My first hand cuts of 2017 (facetted amethyst in process was interrupted by social activities!) Look carefully at the last image to see the natural preserved bark texture.
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Post by tandl on Jan 5, 2017 10:54:37 GMT -5
i think jet is cool . not a lot of info on it from other locales than whitby . i see some from alabama on ebay occasionally . i have some ive found here in illinois . the ones i have are wood . i thought i did see ammonites and maybe other fossils have been found at whitby that were jetitized-carbonized .
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NDK
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Post by NDK on Jan 6, 2017 11:18:59 GMT -5
Hmmm, thought I replied earlier... At any rate, it's cool material you've beautifully worked.
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