Are alabaster lamps worth anything?
Present asking prices for large figural and table alabaster lamps are as high as $1,200, while a pair of mint, working boudoir lights with silk shades bring $40 to $70, based on size and decoration.
What is the difference between marble and alabaster?
Marble consists mostly of calcite, or calcium carbonate, different from the gypsum of alabaster. Marble forms when limestone underground is changed through extreme pressure or heat, transforming it into a crystalline structure. Marble is not quite as delicate as alabaster when it comes to its care.
How do you clean alabaster?
Use a soft cloth moistened with mineral spirits or acetone to clean larger areas. Always work the cloth in the direction of the stone’s grain. A more aggressive cleaning method is to wet the alabaster with acetone, and then rub the wet area with a vinyl eraser.
How do I identify my lamp manufacturer?
Antique Lamp Supply recommends picking up the lamp and looking for a manufacturer’s symbol, name or date stamp embedded into the base. Also look on the lighting fixture itself; sometimes, the manufacturer includes a sticker that includes the name, or date of manufacture.
How can you tell if alabaster is real?
Genuine alabaster is a minimum of 3/8-inch thick and weighs at least twice as much as imitations. Veins are both translucent and dark and are completely random. If you see two pieces that have the same veining pattern in the same location, they are not genuine.
Is alabaster stone expensive?
For example, if you are comparing natural Alabaster to a similar look in resin, then yes alabaster is definitely more expensive than resin. It will be much more expensive for the same look as a resin looking alabasters in the same shape and size.
How do you clean an old alabaster lamp?
Cleaning Methods Use a soft cloth moistened with mineral spirits or acetone to clean larger areas. Always work the cloth in the direction of the stone’s grain. A more aggressive cleaning method is to wet the alabaster with acetone, and then rub the wet area with a vinyl eraser.