Ivory is a hard, white material, derived from the tusks and teeth of animals, that is used in art or manufacturing. It consists of dentine, a tissue that is similar to bone. It has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, and dominoes. Elephant ivory has been the most important source, but ivory from many species including the hippopotamus, walrus, pig, elk, sperm whale, and narwhal have been used. Today, in an effort to protect threatened animal populations, many countries restrict or ban the sale, transport and use of ivory.
There are many items on the market today being represented and sold as ivory that really aren't. This may be due to intentional deception or innocent ignorance. Next to the term "antique", this is the most abused of all descriptions used to sell Asian collectibles. Knowing what material an item you own or are considering buying is made from, is important for several reasons. In addition to the dramatic difference in value between genuine materials and synthetics, it is important to know whether you are buying from a reputable dealer or one that misrepresents their products and sells you items made from plastic and resin, or even worse, someone that deals in illegal elephant ivory and supports the poaching of elephants that continues today around the world.
How to distinguish ivory from bone?
1. Looking for ivory's signature texture and colour. Hold the piece in your hand and feel its weight. Ivory feels heavy and dense when you hold it in your hand. Think of the weight of a billiard ball, which ivory has been used to make in the past, when you hold one in your hand, it feels sturdy and solid. If the item in question feels strangely lightweight, you can eliminate the possibility that it's ivory. Bone can have the exact same weight as ivory, so just because the piece feels solid and heavy doesn't mean it is indeed ivory. If you're unsure whether the item feels appropriately solid, weigh it, then compare its weight to similar items that you know to be ivory. The internet is a great resource for finding the dimensions and weight of ivory items.
Run your fingers over the item to feel its texture. Ivory is said to be as smooth as butter. It's not as soft, but in the right hands, it's almost as easy to carve. If the surface of the piece feels rutted and pockmarked, it might not be ivory. If it feels unbelievably smooth, you may have ivory on your hands.
Examine the item's patina and surface through a magnifying glass. It's not always possible to tell for sure whether an item is ivory by looking under a magnifying glass, but doing so should provide good clues. Real ivory is lustrous and beautiful, often with a slightly yellowish hue. It can also take on a brownish patina caused by the oils of those who have handled it over the years. If you see spots or other odd markings, though, it probably isn't ivory. Look for the following identifiers:
*Cross-hatched lines. There should be parallel lines (with slight irregularities) running along the length of the item. Perpendicular to these should be circular or V-shaped lines. These are found in all elephant and mammoth ivory.
*Does the surface have multiple darkened dots or pits? If so, this is a very good indicator of its being bone. In some cases the bone has been bleached, though, so keep performing other tests to be sure.
*All bone has the tell tale flecks of marrow, or tiny notches, in the surface. These may not be visible to the naked eye, but you should be able to see them through a magnifying glass. Ivory tends to be smoother, harder, and not pitted.
2. Doing the hot pin test. Heat a straight pin. Hold it over a candle flame or a lighter flame for a few seconds until it gets quite hot. You can use any piece of metal, but a pin is a good choice since you don't want to create a mark on the item you're testing. Hold the pin to the surface of the item. Choose a discreet spot so you don't end up leaving a mark or a dent (although if the item is ivory, this won't happen). Smell the place where you touched the item with the hot pin. If the item is ivory, it should have no scent that wasn't there before. If it's bone, it will smell faintly of burning hair. True ivory will not get damaged by this experiment, since it is hard and strong enough to resist the heat. However, if the object you're testing happens to be made of plastic, the hot needle will make a slight dent. Since some plastics have as much or more value than ivory, you may not want to try the hot needle test until you know for sure that what you have is not plastic.
3. Getting the item tested by a professional. Antiques dealers have handled hundreds or thousands of ivory, bone, and plastic pieces, and they're usually quite adept at figuring out which is which using the methods outlined above as well as their own knowledge about the ivory trade. Be sure to find a reputable dealer to appraise the item. Don't go into just any antique store; find a place that specializes in ivory so you can be sure the information you get is correct. Antiques shows are a good place to get items appraised. Check online to find out whether a show will be coming to your area.
To leave absolutely no question about the composition of your ivory or bone item, take it to a forensics lab and have it chemically tested by a scientist. The cellular structure of ivory is different from that of bone, but lab equipment is required to determine which is which with finality.
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There are many items on the market today being represented and sold as ivory that really aren't. This may be due to intentional deception or innocent ignorance. Next to the term "antique", this is the most abused of all descriptions used to sell Asian collectibles. Knowing what material an item you own or are considering buying is made from, is important for several reasons. In addition to the dramatic difference in value between genuine materials and synthetics, it is important to know whether you are buying from a reputable dealer or one that misrepresents their products and sells you items made from plastic and resin, or even worse, someone that deals in illegal elephant ivory and supports the poaching of elephants that continues today around the world.
How to distinguish ivory from bone?
1. Looking for ivory's signature texture and colour. Hold the piece in your hand and feel its weight. Ivory feels heavy and dense when you hold it in your hand. Think of the weight of a billiard ball, which ivory has been used to make in the past, when you hold one in your hand, it feels sturdy and solid. If the item in question feels strangely lightweight, you can eliminate the possibility that it's ivory. Bone can have the exact same weight as ivory, so just because the piece feels solid and heavy doesn't mean it is indeed ivory. If you're unsure whether the item feels appropriately solid, weigh it, then compare its weight to similar items that you know to be ivory. The internet is a great resource for finding the dimensions and weight of ivory items.
Run your fingers over the item to feel its texture. Ivory is said to be as smooth as butter. It's not as soft, but in the right hands, it's almost as easy to carve. If the surface of the piece feels rutted and pockmarked, it might not be ivory. If it feels unbelievably smooth, you may have ivory on your hands.
Examine the item's patina and surface through a magnifying glass. It's not always possible to tell for sure whether an item is ivory by looking under a magnifying glass, but doing so should provide good clues. Real ivory is lustrous and beautiful, often with a slightly yellowish hue. It can also take on a brownish patina caused by the oils of those who have handled it over the years. If you see spots or other odd markings, though, it probably isn't ivory. Look for the following identifiers:
*Cross-hatched lines. There should be parallel lines (with slight irregularities) running along the length of the item. Perpendicular to these should be circular or V-shaped lines. These are found in all elephant and mammoth ivory.
*Does the surface have multiple darkened dots or pits? If so, this is a very good indicator of its being bone. In some cases the bone has been bleached, though, so keep performing other tests to be sure.
*All bone has the tell tale flecks of marrow, or tiny notches, in the surface. These may not be visible to the naked eye, but you should be able to see them through a magnifying glass. Ivory tends to be smoother, harder, and not pitted.
2. Doing the hot pin test. Heat a straight pin. Hold it over a candle flame or a lighter flame for a few seconds until it gets quite hot. You can use any piece of metal, but a pin is a good choice since you don't want to create a mark on the item you're testing. Hold the pin to the surface of the item. Choose a discreet spot so you don't end up leaving a mark or a dent (although if the item is ivory, this won't happen). Smell the place where you touched the item with the hot pin. If the item is ivory, it should have no scent that wasn't there before. If it's bone, it will smell faintly of burning hair. True ivory will not get damaged by this experiment, since it is hard and strong enough to resist the heat. However, if the object you're testing happens to be made of plastic, the hot needle will make a slight dent. Since some plastics have as much or more value than ivory, you may not want to try the hot needle test until you know for sure that what you have is not plastic.
3. Getting the item tested by a professional. Antiques dealers have handled hundreds or thousands of ivory, bone, and plastic pieces, and they're usually quite adept at figuring out which is which using the methods outlined above as well as their own knowledge about the ivory trade. Be sure to find a reputable dealer to appraise the item. Don't go into just any antique store; find a place that specializes in ivory so you can be sure the information you get is correct. Antiques shows are a good place to get items appraised. Check online to find out whether a show will be coming to your area.
To leave absolutely no question about the composition of your ivory or bone item, take it to a forensics lab and have it chemically tested by a scientist. The cellular structure of ivory is different from that of bone, but lab equipment is required to determine which is which with finality.
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