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      • Danish Silver MakersUnder the Danish Hallmarking Act of 1893, the content standard for all silver was set at 826 parts out of 1,000, which is slightly lower than the standard for sterling which is 925. The remainder is usually copper with very small amounts of iron, lead and traces of other metals. The Danish mark, 826S was used until about 1915 when silversmiths raised their silver content to 830 and eventually to 925. Reference: jensensilver.com
      • UK Silver MakersOne of the most highly structured hallmarking systems in the world is that of the United Kingdom, (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland), and Ireland. These five nations have, historically, provided a wealth of information about a piece through their series of applied punches. It should be noted that since 2015 visually identical UK Hallmarks are being struck in India and Italy by sub-offices of Birmingham & Sheffield Assay Offices respectively: English silver makers have used their own marks for centuries. These can consist of their initials or unique mark. They are shown with the Lion Passant for Sterling, Date letter and City Mark also known as the Assay Mark.  The image above shows the hallmark for an English silver maker alongsides the Lion Passant for Sterling, Leopards Head for London and the date letter “u” for 1955.    
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    • CeramicsThe earliest ceramics made by humans were pottery objects (i.e. pots or vessels) or figurines made from clay, either by itself or mixed with other materials like silica, hardened, sintered, in fire. Later they were glazed and fired to create smooth, colored surfaces, decreasing porosity through the use of glassy, amorphous ceramic coatings on top of the crystalline ceramic substrates. Ceramics now include domestic, industrial and building products, as well as a wide range of ceramic art. In the 20th century, new ceramic materials were developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering, such as in semiconductors. Reference: Carter, C. B.; Norton, M. G. (2007). Ceramic materials: Science and engineering. Springer. pp. 20 & 21 and Wikipedia
    • Asian Boxes
      • BambooPrice guide to antique bamboo boxes. Bamboo has hundred of species and grows in large swathes across parts of East, South, and Southeast Asia. Along with wood, stone, sand, clay and animal parts, bamboo was one of the first materials worked by early humans. The development of civilization was closely tied to the development of increasingly greater degrees of skill in working these materials. Just like woodworking, it came to be used for bamboo construction, bamboo textiles, bamboo and wooden slips, bamboo musical instruments, bamboo weaving, and many other areas. Reference: Wikipedia
      • Chinese BoxesPrice guide to antique Chinese boxes.
        • Qianlong PeriodThe Qianlong Emperor was the longest living emperor of China. He lived for 87 years and reigned for 61 years officially between 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796.
      • Japanese BoxesPrice guide to antique Japanese boxes including wooden, lacquerware and ceramic boxes.
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Hardstone

Information on hardstone boxes including general information on the different types of hardstones.

Antique hardstone boxes can be plain or carved with intricate and delicate designs. Hardstone can also be inlaid into marble and other substances. Hardstone is a term which is used to define semi-precious stones which are often used in jewellery and other decorative arts.
The definition of “hardstone” is not very rigid, but excludes “soft” stones such as soapstone (steatite) and minerals such as alabaster, both widely used for carving. Hard organic minerals such as amber and jet are included, as well as the mineraloid obsidian. Geologically speaking, most of the gemstones carved in the West are varieties of quartz, including: chalcedony, agate, amethyst, sard, onyx, carnelion, heliotrope, jasper and quartz in its uncoloured form, known as rock crystal. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, quartz rates no higher than a 7, less for types with impurities. Stones typically used for buildings and large sculpture are not often used for small objects such as vessels, although this does occur.  Reference: Wikipedia

Antique hardstone boxes are excellent items for collecting and can cater for all budgets and tastes. They take up limited space and have a wide variety of types.

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A moss agate, diamond and ruby box
Posted inHardstone Information

Moss Agate

Despite it's name, Moss Agate is actually a form of Chalcedony and not a true agate.  It is recognizable from it's patterns which resemble moss and landscapes. Moss agate is a translucent…
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Posted inHardstone, Information
Circular, gold-mounted hardstone bonbonniere
Posted inHardstone Information

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli has been highly regarded since neolithic times. It was used to make beads and seals. The ancient Egyptians often used this stone to make amulets and scarabs as…
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Posted inHardstone, Information
Box in the shape of a goose with its head resting on its body
Posted inHardstone Information

Jade

Information and images of jade boxes. Jade is an ornamental mineral, mostly known for its green varieties, which feature prominently in ancient Asian art.
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Posted inHardstone, Information
RUSSIAN MALACHITE AND BRONZE BOX
Posted inHardstone Information

Malachite

Malachite has often been used for decorative purposes, such as in the Malachite Room in the Hermitage, which features a huge malachite vase, and the Malachite Room in Castillo de…
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Posted inHardstone, Information

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