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Started By
Message
OT Experts, how to tell if something is real ivory or not?
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:50 am
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:50 am
I bought this miniature horse figurine at an estate sale yesterday. The tag said it was ivory but the women weren't completely sure about it. I thought it looked cool so I bought it anyway. I think it may be bone, any of you antique experts have an idea?
Online tips are all over the place.
Online tips are all over the place.
17
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:54 am to TheIndulger
Looks really white to be from an estate sale. Would expect it to be more yellow
This post was edited on 3/29/15 at 10:03 am
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:54 am to TheIndulger
Take a large hammer and hit it really hard.
If it's ivory it will shatter. If it's plastic it will probably just dent or crack. Good Luck.
If it's ivory it will shatter. If it's plastic it will probably just dent or crack. Good Luck.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:55 am to TheIndulger
Real ivory has elephant blood stains if you look closely. Use a black light.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:57 am to TheIndulger
You can tell by the grain. Also, look for any seams which would indicate it is cast polymer which is what most "ivory" bought overseas is actually. Polymer is a nice way of saying plastic.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:57 am to TheIndulger
you should probably shoot it, looks like it's got a broken leg
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:59 am to TheIndulger
Why do you hate elephants?
Elephant killer.
Elephant killer.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 9:59 am to 777Tiger
quote:
looks like it's got a broken leg
think the carver got confused on that one
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:02 am to TheIndulger
Where's a close up?
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:03 am to TheIndulger
Yeah... That's really monochromatic.
Ivory usually gets darker the deeper you cut into it - So I would think there would be areas of at least some variation somewhere on it. Also in the ridges of the mane.
How big is it? Kinda hard to tell in that image.
ETA:
If it's really small - It may be ivory. It could also be whale bone.
Also - Is it attached to that base? It generally wouldn't be if it's ivory.
Ivory usually gets darker the deeper you cut into it - So I would think there would be areas of at least some variation somewhere on it. Also in the ridges of the mane.
How big is it? Kinda hard to tell in that image.
ETA:
If it's really small - It may be ivory. It could also be whale bone.
Also - Is it attached to that base? It generally wouldn't be if it's ivory.
This post was edited on 3/29/15 at 10:10 am
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:10 am to TheIndulger
Heat up a needle and touch it to a discreet location. If it smells like burning hair = ivory. If it smells like burning plastic = plastic.
This is the correct way to test.
This is the correct way to test.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:11 am to TheIndulger
Fake ivory will yellow over time. Odds are it isn't real but you never know. take it to an expert
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:12 am to Geauxld Finger
Real ivory will also yellow over time.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:14 am to yurintroubl
It's about 2 inches long and 1.5 tall. Yes it's attached to the base-there are holes carved for its hooves but it seems to be attached by some adhesive. Why wouldn't ivory be attached to the base?
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:15 am to weagle99
quote:
If it smells like burning hair = ivory. If it smells like burning plastic = plastic.
Thinking it might be bone but I did read about that test online
Posted on 3/29/15 at 10:18 am to TheIndulger
I don't think it's a real elephant, it looks like a fake horse to me.
You only have included one image and it's kind of blurry.
Good luck in this quest.
You only have included one image and it's kind of blurry.
Good luck in this quest.
This post was edited on 3/29/15 at 10:19 am
Posted on 3/29/15 at 11:32 am to TheIndulger
Could be made of soap.
Take a shower with it and see.
Take a shower with it and see.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 11:35 am to TheIndulger
Posted on 3/29/15 at 11:59 am to TheIndulger
quote:
Why wouldn't ivory be attached to the base?
Because if it's made of some composite and pressed in a mold... That would be the best place to hide any seams/imperfections.
Carved ivory figures, especially Chinese, have a decent chance of having some sort of artist/maker/studio mark of some sort on the underside.
Posted on 3/29/15 at 12:00 pm to yurintroubl
quote:
That would be the best place to hide any seams/imperfections.
you're really up on your Ivory carvings
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