Post by chris1956 on Apr 22, 2024 20:37:32 GMT -5
Some time ago, someone posted pictures of I think a table made with agates or some sort of rare rock that I think was in a bar. Shows you how my memory is nowdays. That post got me to thinking about this birdbath. This isn't a piece of furniture, but it is something practical made from rocks that aren't nearly as easily found as they used to be. Anyway, when I was up in Michigan last week, I stayed with my brother Roland (on left in first photo) and his wife Karen.
My brother inherited this Petoskey Stone birdbath from my father. I remember it being at our house as far back as I can recall. My brother said that my dad had this made by someone who did similar work back when really good Petoskey stones were much easier to find. I am guessing that it is from the early sixties as there is an indented profile of President Kennedy in the middle (can't see it from the photos). There is a twin of sorts that my sister has which is the same size and style but make from all petrified wood (although the PW doesn't have much color to it). As I recall, the PW birdbath has an indented profile of President Lincoln.
There must be a couple hundred Petoskey Stones (I didn't count them) and almost all of them are really good ones. They look like they were somewhat polished when the birdbath was made. There are also a couple Favosites (Charlevoix Stones) and at least one horn coral that I saw. I think I recall my father coating the stones with varnish but it could have been something else. Last year, I suggested to my brother just coating it with mineral oil which he did in the fall. He hasn't coated it again this spring but the rocks looked pretty good considering it had been outside during the winter. I suggested maybe he keep it inside during the winter although it has been outside for the last 60 years. It finally had one rock that came loose that my brother repaired last fall. I can't imagine what it would cost to get that many good Petoskey Stones if you wanted to make another one today.
Thanks for looking at the pics,
Chris
My brother inherited this Petoskey Stone birdbath from my father. I remember it being at our house as far back as I can recall. My brother said that my dad had this made by someone who did similar work back when really good Petoskey stones were much easier to find. I am guessing that it is from the early sixties as there is an indented profile of President Kennedy in the middle (can't see it from the photos). There is a twin of sorts that my sister has which is the same size and style but make from all petrified wood (although the PW doesn't have much color to it). As I recall, the PW birdbath has an indented profile of President Lincoln.
There must be a couple hundred Petoskey Stones (I didn't count them) and almost all of them are really good ones. They look like they were somewhat polished when the birdbath was made. There are also a couple Favosites (Charlevoix Stones) and at least one horn coral that I saw. I think I recall my father coating the stones with varnish but it could have been something else. Last year, I suggested to my brother just coating it with mineral oil which he did in the fall. He hasn't coated it again this spring but the rocks looked pretty good considering it had been outside during the winter. I suggested maybe he keep it inside during the winter although it has been outside for the last 60 years. It finally had one rock that came loose that my brother repaired last fall. I can't imagine what it would cost to get that many good Petoskey Stones if you wanted to make another one today.
Thanks for looking at the pics,
Chris
