cup

S

stevester

Newbie
Jan 4, 2023
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Hello from California

Last year near Mount Shasta, I was hiking with my dog near a river and under a tree I saw a very square looking rock mixed with other regular looking rocks that just stood out to me, when I turned it over It looked like some kind of container, but then I noticed a lip where it might be used for drinking.

The rock presumed an agate type does not look prevalant on the ground nearby but I read that type rock is common in areas not far away. The object is very well made flush in all areas.

I assumed it was more modern but I wrapped it up in a bubble wrap ball for the last year anyway.

Has anyone on this forum ever seen anything like this or if it is modern or more ancient.

Thank you
 

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Thank you everybody.

The piece is not made out of plaster. It was a solid agate rock similar to the images i just posted. Maybe one can but it would seem difficult to melt agate and put into a mold and get those swirls. It looks hand sanded.
 

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Upvote 0
stevester said:
Thank you everybody.

The piece is not made out of plaster. It was a solid agate rock similar to the images i just posted. Maybe one can but it would seem difficult to melt agate and put into a mold and get those swirls. It looks hand sanded.
Click to expand...
Is that the same "cup"? It doesn't look like your fist set of pics. And yes there is material that is poured then becomes very hard with myriad designs possible. Faux marble.
 

Upvote 0
Geology guys might catch me on some technicalities but drawing on some college classes that quickly get farther away… agate is a silicate that forms as a replacement, I believe it’s bonded with a water molecule which is how it flows into voids. My point is this slow replacement and deposition is the opposite process that would leave natural bubbles which is more indicative of rapid cooling which traps the gas… I’ve never seen an agate with bubbles Id agree it’s poured
 

Upvote 0
no, no... lots of agates have bubbles, as in the ones that fill lava voids, I have dozens... but yes, NOT like the ones on this piece. Do you all think this item if "half" of something?
 

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unclemac said:
no, no... lots of agates have bubbles, as in the ones that fill lava voids, I have dozens... but yes, NOT like the ones on this piece. Do you all think this item if "half" of something?
Click to expand...
I agree it is made from a whole rock. The bottom looks sanded to show half bubbles.

I was thinking that it may be made by a hand held rotary drill set then sanded down to make it smoother.

Or it could have been all handcarved by another stone, I have seen a few photos of "cupstones" online by the native americans, and some have very even symetrical edges.

But whoever did it hand some skills.
 

Upvote 0
It's neither agate nor man made.

It's Travertine. Travertine is just the mineral calcite that has been built up through deposition. It's found around springs and waterfalls in areas with limestone country rock. It's very soft and easily carved with a knife. It's been used for thousands of years for inexpensive containers - most commonly ash trays in the last century. It's not particularly durable but it has been used in Europe as an inexpensive replacement for marble.

Travertine is not a good choice for a drinking or eating vessel because it decomposes when in contact with even mild acids. For the same reason it doesn't work well for grinding grains or herbs. If you put a little vinegar (mild acid) in your bowl you can watch the bubbles fizz as the bowl self destructs. I wouldn't suggest you do this on anything but a small detached piece because the vinegar soaks into the stone and continues weakining the calcite bonds for a very long time.
 

Upvote 1
i am not even sure it is even that.... all those bubbles make it look man made to me.
 

Upvote 0
unclemac said:
i am not even sure it is even that.... all those bubbles make it look man made to me.
Click to expand...
Travertine is full of "bubbles" (cavities). Look at the pictures in the links I posted above.

Here's a picture from one of the most famous Travertine deposits in Tuscany Italy. This is what most Travertine you will encounter looks like in the rough.
www.mindat.org

Travertine

Locality: along the river Orcia, near Bagno Vignoni. Date collected: 20-June-2008. Number: 104. Copyright © Arjen van Ooyen
www.mindat.org

Here's are some ash trays made from Travertine.
pin.it

1960's Mid-century Travertine Ashtray by Fratelli Mannelli - Etsy UK | Travertine, 1960s, Mid century

Jun 21, 2022 - This Ashtrays item by VScollectibles has 9 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Italy. Listed on 22 Feb, 2023
pin.it pin.it
 

Upvote 1
Clay Diggins said:
Travertine is full of "bubbles" (cavities). Look at the pictures in the links I posted above.

Here's a picture from one of the most famous Travertine deposits in Tuscany Italy. This is what most Travertine you will encounter looks like in the rough.
www.mindat.org

Travertine

Locality: along the river Orcia, near Bagno Vignoni. Date collected: 20-June-2008. Number: 104. Copyright © Arjen van Ooyen
www.mindat.org

Here's are some ash trays made from Travertine.
pin.it

1960's Mid-century Travertine Ashtray by Fratelli Mannelli - Etsy UK | Travertine, 1960s, Mid century

Jun 21, 2022 - This Ashtrays item by VScollectibles has 9 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Italy. Listed on 22 Feb, 2023
pin.it pin.it
Click to expand...
yeah, yeah, yeah.... but not all those uniform circular bubble type holes....
 

Upvote 0
unclemac said:
yeah, yeah, yeah.... but not all those uniform circular bubble type holes....
Click to expand...
I get your point. I can see the distinction you are making.

So that leaves the question - if this is man made why the heck would someone spend all that time and money trying to make something look like Travertine which is already essentially free and easy to carve into just about any shape? And why would they spend so much time trying to give it a rough natural appearance when the market favors smooth well finished pieces?

www.etsy.com

WINE BOTTLE HOLDER, Natural Stone Travertine Wine and Champagne Chiller, Holder Red Travertine Jewelry Holder, Silver Travertine Catchall - Etsy

This Dining & Serving item by HaandCraft has 289 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Türkiye. Listed on Jun 26, 2024
www.etsy.com www.etsy.com
 

Upvote 0
Clay Diggins said:
I get your point. I can see the distinction you are making.

So that leaves the question - if this is man made why the heck would someone spend all that time and money trying to make something look like Travertine which is already essentially free and easy to carve into just about any shape? And why would they spend so much time trying to give it a rough natural appearance when the market favors smooth well finished pieces?

www.etsy.com

WINE BOTTLE HOLDER, Natural Stone Travertine Wine and Champagne Chiller, Holder Red Travertine Jewelry Holder, Silver Travertine Catchall - Etsy

This Dining & Serving item by HaandCraft has 289 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Türkiye. Listed on Jun 26, 2024
www.etsy.com www.etsy.com
Click to expand...
I am guessing it is broken off of something else.
 

Upvote 0
Why where you found it...?

My first guess is based on the design. Specific edges for specific reason. More than crude chance.
Thus my why of it's locale. But humans scatter stuff far and wide for many reasons.
Was the stone area under the tree an alter of sorts ?

46200_cascadia_electric_fountain_1.jpg
 

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