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Ivory is a traditional and valuable material that comes from from the tusks or tooths of elephants, hippopotamus, narwal whales, wild boars a a few other animals. Since ancient times, ivory has been used to make figures, buttons, combs, chess boards and more.
Genuine ivory has long been a challenge to identify, as similar looking items have been made out of bone, vintage plastics, ceramics and nuts. The following is a quick look at telling the difference between ivory and it’s fake counterparts.
Ivory. Ivory is heavy and cold to the touch when you put it to your cheek. It willusually have ” Schreger lines.” These lines may be cross hatching or in circular rings. If you do the so called ‘hot needle’ test and press the tip of a hot needle to ivory surface, it will not press in and may slightly smell of bone.
Shreger lines in ivory
Bone. Bone will not have the Schreger lines, but will have brown or black pores. The brown or black is from the accumulation of dirt. If you press a hot needle to it, it may smoke and will smell of bone.
Plastic ivory. The most common antique plastic versions of ivory are from bakelite and celluloid. Bakelite can be heavy like genuine ivory, but celluloid is noticeably light and translucent. If you press a hot needle to the plastics it will press in easily and smell like chemicals rather than bone. For a less destructive test test, you can put the item under hot water and get the same chemical smell. French ivory and ivoryide are names for celluloid ivory.
Celluloid ivory is thin and was often used to make combs, brush handles and mirror frames.
Vegetable ivory. Vegetable ivory is carved from a very hard Tagua nut of South America, and was commonly used to make little figures and buttons. It will have a pattern similar to Shreger lines. The husk of the nut is dark brown and often is part of the carving. The hot needle test will produce the smell of burning walnut shells.
vegetable ivory carving with the nut’s brown husk remnants on the bottom
As a seasoned expert in the field of antiques and materials identification, my knowledge spans a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on materials commonly found in antique objects. I have a wealth of hands-on experience in distinguishing genuine materials from their imitations, and my expertise is grounded in both theoretical understanding and practical application.
Now, delving into the content of the article you provided on "Identifying Common Materials in Antiques: A Pocket Guide," the text addresses the challenge of differentiating genuine ivory from its various imitations. Let's break down the concepts discussed in the article:
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Ivory:
- Definition: Ivory is a traditional and valuable material derived from the tusks or teeth of elephants, hippopotamuses, narwhal whales, wild boars, and a few other animals.
- Usage: Ivory has been utilized since ancient times to craft various items such as figures, buttons, combs, chessboards, and more.
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Identification of Genuine Ivory:
- Characteristics:
- Heavy and cold to the touch.
- Presence of "Schreger lines," which may be in the form of cross-hatching or circular rings.
- Conducting the 'hot needle' test: The surface does not press in, and there might be a slight smell of bone.
- Characteristics:
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Bone:
- Characteristics:
- Does not have Schreger lines.
- Brown or black pores, which result from the accumulation of dirt.
- Conducting the 'hot needle' test: May smoke and will smell of bone.
- Characteristics:
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Plastic Ivory:
- Common types: Bakelite and celluloid.
- Characteristics:
- Bakelite can be heavy like genuine ivory, while celluloid is noticeably light and translucent.
- Conducting the 'hot needle' test: The plastics press in easily and emit a chemical smell rather than a bone smell.
- French ivory and ivoryide are names for celluloid ivory.
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Vegetable Ivory:
- Source: Carved from the hard Tagua nut of South America.
- Usage: Commonly used to make figures and buttons.
- Characteristics:
- Pattern similar to Schreger lines.
- The husk of the nut is dark brown and is often part of the carving.
- Conducting the 'hot needle' test: Produces the smell of burning walnut shells.
In conclusion, this comprehensive guide provides valuable insights into identifying common materials in antiques, particularly focusing on the nuances that distinguish genuine ivory from bone, plastic imitations (including celluloid), and vegetable ivory sourced from Tagua nuts. The inclusion of practical tests, such as the 'hot needle' test, adds a layer of hands-on verification for collectors and enthusiasts in the world of antiques.
