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 Post subject: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 11:45 am 
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I recently inherited this little orb bracelet. I knew nothing about it until yesterday! I finally located a similar pendant and discovered it was a "pools of light" pendant -- popular during the Victorian/Edwardian eras. I thought it was glass--turns out it's rock quartz.

Is there anyone here more familiar with these pendants? Mine is on a bracelet, but I think it might not be original to the bracelet as it's very unwieldly to wear. I've been trying to figure out the maker's mark on the chain to no avail. Are maker’s marks always stamped in the same direction as the purity mark? If so, I think I am seeing “RAB”.

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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 3:33 pm 
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I have been involved in antiques and particularly watch related antiques (this looks like a piece cut from a watch chain and the pendant looks like the sort of thing a man would dangle from his watch chain) for many years and have never seen such a pendant, could I ask where you picked up the description "Pools of Light"? You speak of a "Purity mark", is it a hallmark or just 14K stamped on it? If the latter I would have someone drip some acid on it to be sure since it looks like brass (difficult to be sure from a photograph)


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 3:56 pm 
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When trying to identify the type of pendant, I was searching terms such as "glass ball, glass orb, crystal ball", etc. I came across this link:
https://chatsworthlady.com/2016/01/06/vintage-pools-of-light-jewelry/

After reading about Pools of Light, I found other references as well.

I suppose it could be a watch fob, although the clasp is different from what I've seen on Victorian-era fob chains. I've actually hung it from a longer watch chain so I could wear it as a necklace. In this picture you can see the kind of clasp I'm used to seeing on watch chains.
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The chain is marked 14kt, but I'm going to have it tested. The hand tooled "wrap" around the orb is either brass or gold, but I suspect brass which was popular in the Victorian era.


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 6:10 pm 
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Are you sure it is quartz?


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 6:18 pm 
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Barbra Voltaire wrote:
Are you sure it is quartz?


Yes, that is my understanding. I was told it was rock crystal which is a variety of quartz.


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 6:53 pm 
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Well since it is a sphere, just put it in a polariscope and look for the Bulls Eye interference figure. It should jump right out at you!


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 7:15 pm 
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1bwana1 wrote:
Well since it is a sphere, just put it in a polariscope and look for the Bulls Eye interference figure. It should jump right out at you!


Since I now appear to be "hooked" I think I'm going to have to invest in some books & equipment!


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 7:35 pm 
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May I suggest the digital version of The Handbook of Gemmology? At $50 it is a gift.
http://handbookofgemmology.com/about_the_book.html

and


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 7:37 pm 
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Looks wonderful! Thank you for the suggestion, Barbara!


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:52 am 
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Perhaps I could add a point of nomenclature here, a watch "fob" is a short length of fancy wide chain (5 - 6 inches long) worn with a watch to help lift it out of the watch pocket, a special pocket just below the waistband, necessary since the fashion of the time (1780 - 1830) was for very tight trousers or breeches. These can often be seen in portraits of the time. When Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha married Queen Victoria (1839) he brought with him the German fashion of a long watch chain across a waistcoat and this was rapidly copied by gentlemen of fashion, hence, a long watch chain is referred to, particularly in the UK, as an "Albert".


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:51 am 
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Alan F. wrote:
Perhaps I could add a point of nomenclature here, a watch "fob" is a short length of fancy wide chain (5 - 6 inches long) worn with a watch to help lift it out of the watch pocket, a special pocket just below the waistband, necessary since the fashion of the time (1780 - 1830) was for very tight trousers or breeches. These can often be seen in portraits of the time. When Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha married Queen Victoria (1839) he brought with him the German fashion of a long watch chain across a waistcoat and this was rapidly copied by gentlemen of fashion, hence, a long watch chain is referred to, particularly in the UK, as an "Albert".


Thank you for that information, Alan! I never knew the reason for the differences in watch chain lengths. This is a another fob we inherited, by Cartier. This one has the shorter chain. Sadly, we don't know the reason for the inscription of "DON'T PANIC!" on the back.
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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 1:34 pm 
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The maker's mark C with the sword, is the maker's mark of Charles Thomae Company in Massachusetts.
Image

Cartier commissioned them to do some 14k pieces for them for distribution in the US. But their maker's mark was typically followed by "CARTIER"
Image

I've seen examples of this St. Christopher's medal before. The one Fiwi pictured is identical to the one's I've seen, sans the CARTIER stamp.


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 2:18 pm 
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This fob must have been a favorite, because the Cartier stamp in the bottom left is nearly worn off. It's almost impossible to see without magnification.
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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 2:30 pm 
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Let me rephrase this St. Christopher medal is identical to ones I've seen in the past. :wink:
Made by Thomae at the behest of Cartier.


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 Post subject: Re: Antique "Pools of Light"
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 2:33 pm 
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I have a pendant that belonged to my aunt with the exact image of St. Christoper and I just realized it has the mark of Charles Thomae Company! I never put the two together! It's interesting that you said the company made things for Cartier for sale in the US because I think my husband's grandfather only made one trip to the US in his lifetime. I suppose he did purchase it while he was there.
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