How much is this horse worth?
August 25, 2015 2:09 PM
My great-aunt gave me this lapis lazuli horse a few years ago and I'm thinking of selling it. Does anyone have any idea what it's worth?
I don't know anything about it, but I found something very similar (albeit about twice as big) selling for £1,126 on Ebay.
I don't know anything about it, but I found something very similar (albeit about twice as big) selling for £1,126 on Ebay.
The one on ebay is actually not very similar. The ebay horse seems to executed with a much more refined level of craftsmanship. That doesn't mean yours lacks value. It means the ebay one isn't a good benchmark.
You really need to have it appraised.
posted by 26.2 at 3:03 PM on August 25, 2015
You really need to have it appraised.
posted by 26.2 at 3:03 PM on August 25, 2015
Thirding that they are not that similar (as these things go) and that you really need to have it appraised.
posted by desuetude at 7:17 PM on August 25, 2015
posted by desuetude at 7:17 PM on August 25, 2015
Huh. My gut instinct would be $50-100. Completely uninformed opinion.
If you check out lapis lazuli carvings on ebay, there's a huge range, but it tends to be quite low end - even an amazing midcentury style 1.6kg chinese dragon, is stilll only $400 at the moment. The carved skulls on the other hand, all go for less than $100. Ask a few antique store owners to get a rough guess.
Size is important for semi-precious stones, because it is easier to get small pieces, and smaller pieces without flaws that make carving unsuitable.
Unless it's by someone famous, or has some kind of cultural value? I would be surprised, and very happy for you, if it was worth a lot.
posted by Elysum at 8:00 PM on August 25, 2015
If you check out lapis lazuli carvings on ebay, there's a huge range, but it tends to be quite low end - even an amazing midcentury style 1.6kg chinese dragon, is stilll only $400 at the moment. The carved skulls on the other hand, all go for less than $100. Ask a few antique store owners to get a rough guess.
Size is important for semi-precious stones, because it is easier to get small pieces, and smaller pieces without flaws that make carving unsuitable.
Unless it's by someone famous, or has some kind of cultural value? I would be surprised, and very happy for you, if it was worth a lot.
posted by Elysum at 8:00 PM on August 25, 2015
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I think you would need to get it appraised. It depends on a lot of factors- the quality of the stone, the quality of the workmanship, whether it has a maker's mark that might affect the value, any chips of other marks, etc etc.
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:37 PM on August 25, 2015