update 15/7 looks like I got lucky
Jul 10, 2016 8:15:01 GMT -5
Fossilman, spiritstone, and 2 more like this
Post by kk on Jul 10, 2016 8:15:01 GMT -5
Yesterdays outing into the markets worked out better than expected with more stones and still some budget left.
I went into the markets primarily with the wishlist of a black-skinned nephrite (Chinese jade), some yellow jade and chatoyant sodalite that I found here some years ago.
Could find the shop, but they had no more of the sodalite. Did not find the guy with the yellow jade, but ended up with this loot......
4 nephrite and two agates.
This piece has a dark-brown to black rind that should contrast very well with the white stone inside. It's the piece I left behind last year as it was just above budget. I'm nearly sure that this is the exact piece, but to my surprise the opening quote this time was less than half last years price. So I was a happy camper from the start. This piece will allow me to realize a design of a tribal tattoo of a phoenix by my daughter, promised a long time ago.
The lucky price above, allowed me to gamble on this one, and still be within the set budget for the piece above. Red-brown rind, over an inch thick and light passes through without much trouble, showing no internal flaws. If I'm lucky, that might also prove white inside, but need caution for now as there is no way yet to determine for me if this is Nephrite or Agate. For the moment I'm hopeful on nephrite.
This one was easy to ID, as someone opened a small window, so you can see what is called mutton-fat white under the skin.
On to some 3$ something. Somehow it looks like agate, but then it could be soapstone or something different altogether. Its oiled up, so its hard to make an ID. All I know is that it seems to have a darker rind than interior to play with.
Next up, a one pounder + agate. I have been looking for something with a strong colour solid rind since last year. I have seen so many wonderful creations using different layers, that I simple have to give it a try. No luck all day asking for even one single piece in the rough. Then as I was ready to pack up and return to my room, I saw this. Even with my wasteful ways, I should be able to get somewhere between 3 and 5 pieces out of it using the rind. But, came with a bonus; there is already a dragon-head carved in the piece. At 15$ for the piece, I plan to cut the dragon out leaving a small rim of white surrounding him, for the drawer.....
Last but not least the buy of the day, Hetian Jade I'm sure. Just a small piece at about 200gr, but as the seller told me the price of just a bit over 7$ I nearly threw the money at him getting ready to run before he might change his mind. It has the right texture and translucency to be a perfect white inside. But no window yet, so will not find out until cut.
There is a reason why buying jade in Chinese is called "Taking a gamble" You only find out after you cut into if it was all worthwhile.....
I'm happy regardless, if things go right, I'm looking at material for about 15 pieces over time, and that translates at a cost of just a bit over 10$ each.... So, it already seems to have payed off for me.
Ohh yeah, one more thing: all pieces where bought from different dealers.......
Thanks for looking, Kurt
I went into the markets primarily with the wishlist of a black-skinned nephrite (Chinese jade), some yellow jade and chatoyant sodalite that I found here some years ago.
Could find the shop, but they had no more of the sodalite. Did not find the guy with the yellow jade, but ended up with this loot......
4 nephrite and two agates.
This piece has a dark-brown to black rind that should contrast very well with the white stone inside. It's the piece I left behind last year as it was just above budget. I'm nearly sure that this is the exact piece, but to my surprise the opening quote this time was less than half last years price. So I was a happy camper from the start. This piece will allow me to realize a design of a tribal tattoo of a phoenix by my daughter, promised a long time ago.
The lucky price above, allowed me to gamble on this one, and still be within the set budget for the piece above. Red-brown rind, over an inch thick and light passes through without much trouble, showing no internal flaws. If I'm lucky, that might also prove white inside, but need caution for now as there is no way yet to determine for me if this is Nephrite or Agate. For the moment I'm hopeful on nephrite.
This one was easy to ID, as someone opened a small window, so you can see what is called mutton-fat white under the skin.
On to some 3$ something. Somehow it looks like agate, but then it could be soapstone or something different altogether. Its oiled up, so its hard to make an ID. All I know is that it seems to have a darker rind than interior to play with.
Next up, a one pounder + agate. I have been looking for something with a strong colour solid rind since last year. I have seen so many wonderful creations using different layers, that I simple have to give it a try. No luck all day asking for even one single piece in the rough. Then as I was ready to pack up and return to my room, I saw this. Even with my wasteful ways, I should be able to get somewhere between 3 and 5 pieces out of it using the rind. But, came with a bonus; there is already a dragon-head carved in the piece. At 15$ for the piece, I plan to cut the dragon out leaving a small rim of white surrounding him, for the drawer.....
Last but not least the buy of the day, Hetian Jade I'm sure. Just a small piece at about 200gr, but as the seller told me the price of just a bit over 7$ I nearly threw the money at him getting ready to run before he might change his mind. It has the right texture and translucency to be a perfect white inside. But no window yet, so will not find out until cut.
There is a reason why buying jade in Chinese is called "Taking a gamble" You only find out after you cut into if it was all worthwhile.....I'm happy regardless, if things go right, I'm looking at material for about 15 pieces over time, and that translates at a cost of just a bit over 10$ each.... So, it already seems to have payed off for me.
Ohh yeah, one more thing: all pieces where bought from different dealers.......
Thanks for looking, Kurt
