HOW TO ID GLASS, PLASTIC, COPPER, BRASS



Here are 2 basic hints or tips for the beginning antiquers.

1. In order to IDENTIFY COPPER FROM BRASS look at the metal. If there is pink, red, or orange tones then it should be copper. If the brass or gold tone metal is medium or highly patinated, oftentimes, it can be mistaken for COPPER, when in fact it is not. It is actually brass, gold-plated, or gold -tone. To accurately determine whether it is COPPER OR BRASS/GOLD, then you must try to remove a bit of patination (perhaps from the underside) and then look for the red tones of copper or the purely yellow tones of brass/gold tone. The patination puts a brownish, sometimes orangish tint on the brass/gold tone making it appear to be copper.

I have a few pieces highly patinated jewelry which appear to be copper but are not. I do not polish or remove the darkening as I love copper more than any other metal. It appears, on eBay, that most buyers love the patinated look which happened over many years. The ORIGINAL was usually nice, clear and shiny; but, so many of us antiquers love the OLD LOOK.

2. Once in a while, while dealing with an object such as jewelry, it is very difficult to IDENTIFY GLASS FROM PLASTIC, especially small earring items. For example, if you have a long beaded necklace, the heavy weight will tell you that it IS GLASS. In order to test whether the item is GLASS OR PLASTIC, then you need to have in hand: samples of glass and plastic beads or known items. Press each known sample and unknown item up to your bottom lip. If it is quite cold like the glass sample then you can compare. If it is more like room temperature against your lip like your plastic sample then you know it IS PLASTIC. Some people don't need the samples, but I do because the plastic sometimes feels rather cold. When that happens I like an instant comparison. 

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