Posted 8 years ago
bobbee
(105 items)
Another charity shop find, this one cost £2.50.
It came in it's original box with certificate, and measures one and a half inches by half an inch.
Blue John stone can only be found in two caverns in a small town in Derbyshire, close (20 miles) to where I live, and I have visited the caves some years ago.
It has been extensively mined since the 1760's and made into jewelry, bowls, plates, cups and other forms.
It's name is thought to have originated from the French "bleu-jaune", meaning blue-yellow, the common colouring of the stone.
In the United Kingdom, the blue banded, fluorite known as Blue John is found only under the triangular hill known as Treak Cliff, just outside the town of Castleton.Today the veins are mined only in Blue John Cavern and the nearby Treak Cliff Cavern, although the abandoned Old Tor Mine on the north side of Winnats Pass was also, at one time, a source for the mineral.
It is mounted in a sterling silver delicate filigree, Art-Deco in style.
Thanks for looking.
Bobbee , this is so lovely!!! What a great find, well done!! Thanks for the history too.....
Thank you Tassie, and thanks for the love. Thanks to Vetraio50 and Martika too!
BTW, it's tough digging round that area!
My crew and I once took over 13 hours to put in just two telegraph poles at a farm in Castleton, the rock was so tough to drill!
Blue John can be pricey, so finding this in a thrift shop for a couple of quid and change is pretty good! I'm still looking for my first Blue John "find"......
Thanks Efesgirl, I was so happy to find it too! I bought a nice slim silver chain for it, but my wife has yet to wear it...
BTW, a jewelers shop I checked the day I found this had some similar but more modern pendants in Blue John, starting prices were around £70....
Now I want a wine goblet, better get hunting!
Bobbee, that's a very nice find! Bluejohn is very scarce, you were lucky to find the pendant for so cheap in it's area of mining!
Love it!!!
Beautiful stone Bobbee.
racer4four, thanks so much.
kyratango, thanks to you too.
Thank you all for the loves.
Just lovely, Bob. [;>)
Thanks again KJ, and thanks for the loves!