Exceptional Artifact & Collectible Auction
Lot 502:
Ferruginous Quartz Bannerstone
Modern ferruginous quartz bannerstone offered intentionally as an educational example to help collectors understand the differences between authentic Archaic bannerstones and modern lapidary reproductions
Pieces like this are frequently seen at artifact shows and online where they can unintentionally mislead new collectors due to their attractive materials and drilled forms
Material and manufacture
This piece is carved from ferruginous quartz a hard mineral Mohs 7 that cannot be drilled in long straight bores using ancient technology
The perfectly cylindrical uniform hole was created using a modern diamond tipped drill
The symmetry of the form indicates lathe turning a modern lapidary technique
Ancient bannerstones were shaped by pecking and grinding not by rotary machinery
Why this is not an ancient bannerstone
Authentic bannerstones from the North American Archaic period were made from workable stones such as slate banded slate steatite schist and occasionally softer quartzite
These materials could be drilled using sand abrasive bow drills which always produce biconical hourglass shaped holes
In contrast
The hole in this piece is perfectly straight not biconical
The surface is machine polished not hand ground
The shape does not match any known archaeological bannerstone type
Pure quartz was not used for bannerstones in antiquity due to its hardness and brittleness
Historical context modern bannerstone production
Modern bannerstone style carvings have been produced for nearly a century
As early as the 1930s skilled craftsmen in Pike County Illinois were making high quality reproductions some for study some as curiosities and some that later entered collections without clear labeling
Their work was so convincing that many pieces still circulate today
By the mid 20th century lapidary clubs across the Midwest expanded the craft experimenting with harder stones like quartz agate and jasper
Today similar pieces are also produced in India Pakistan Brazil and China for the decorative stone market
Why this listing matters
Modern quartz bannerstones often appear at artifact shows and estate sales where their presence can unintentionally give the public a false impression of what ancient bannerstones looked like or were made from
This listing is offered transparently and educationally to help collectors learn how to distinguish
Authentic Archaic bannerstones
Modern reproductions
Decorative lapidary carvings inspired by ancient forms
Understanding materials drilling methods and tool marks is essential for responsible collecting
Measurements
2 3 4 in tall by 2 1 2 in wide
Summary
A modern ferruginous quartz bannerstone sold openly as a modern educational example
This piece is ideal for teaching comparison and helping new collectors understand the differences between ancient bannerstones and modern lapidary work
Condition: Modern
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