The major organic component is the fibrous protein collagen. Skin derivatives such as horn, baleen and tortoise shell have the sulphur-containing protein keratin as the main constituent. Vegetable, or palm ivory is composed of almost pure cellulose, the fundamental constituent of the cell walls of plants while synthetic ivory substitutes can be prepared from a variety of different materials see above.
Although it is often difficult to differentiate between bone, ivory, horn and synthetic substitutes, an examination of the morphological, surface and structural features or of the chemical composition of a material usually allows a positive identification to be made. A high quality hand lens and examination of photographs or photomicrographs which highlight structural features makes it easier to identify these materials Penniman Antler and bone, although difficult to distinguish from each other in a worked piece, can be distinguished from ivory with a hand lens.
This is because the ivory contains none of the microscopic pores that, in life, contained the blood vessels that fed the growing bone or antler. Morphological features such as the shape and size of the materials in their unworked state, together with elements such as the marrow cavity in long bones and the pulp cavity in tusks may aid the identification process. Ivory is basically another form of bone called dentine. Despite their different structures bone and ivory have similar chemical compositions.
Thus, unless some material is available for destructive analysis, chemical tests cannot usually distinguish between bone and ivory. A further characteristic of all ivories is their fluorescence with a bluish light when irradiated with long wave ultra-violet UV light. Depending on the ivory type, this fluorescence varies from bluish-white to a deep violet blue Penniman The difference in fluorescence from old ivories also may be useful in distinguishing old from new surfaces, as an aged patina fluoresces in mottled yellow tones while newer ivories and restorations usually appear deep blue-purple.
Synthetic materials often exhibit a brilliant fluorescence, quite different from the natural substances. Figure 3: Elephant ivory showing intersecting arcs Schreger lines which help to identify this material. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since This article has been viewed , times. Learn more Ivory is made from the tusks and teeth of elephants, whales and several other animals. While bone and ivory can be similar in appearance, weight, and feel, ivory tends to be of higher value and more regulated than bone.
Start by determining if the piece is bone or ivory rather than a synthetic or other replica material. After that, you can examine it under a magnifying lens to easily differentiate between these two materials. To tell if something is ivory or bone, you'll need a handheld magnifying glass so you can examine the object closely. Place the object on a flat surface, and hold the magnifying glass a few inches away. You may need to move it closer or further away until it focuses.
Once it's focused, carefully examine the surface of the object to see if it's covered with either pores or lines. If it's covered with pores, or small holes, it's most likely made of bone. Alternatively, if it's covered in straight, cross-hatched, or swirled lines, it's most likely ivory.
To learn how to tell is bone or ivory is real or fake, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue.
No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Categories How to Tell Ivory from Bone. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Use an appropriate magnifying lens for your piece.
Magnifying glasses come in a variety of sizes with a number of different special features. For most bone or ivory pieces, a standard strength, handheld magnifying glass works well, letting you see enough detail to distinguish between the two materials and control how close you are able to examine the piece.
Handheld magnifying glasses can be purchased online or at some specialty and hobby retailers. You can also use a microscope, but these tend to be more expensive than a magnifying glass, especially if your bone or ivory piece is large.
Hold the magnifying glass over the piece. Hold the piece in your hand or place it on a flat surface. Hold your handheld magnifying glass over the piece, starting several inches away. Move the magnifying glass closer to the piece as needed until the details come into focus and you are able to see the intricate markings on the piece. Look for pores to confirm the item is bone. Once the details on the piece become visible through your magnifying lens, examine closely to assess if the surface of the piece is covered with lines or pores.
If the piece is porous, it is almost certainly bone. Examine for lines to determine that your piece is ivory. When you examine your piece under a magnifying glass, if you are looking at ivory, there will be lines on the surface. Part 2. Hold the piece in your hand to assess the weight. Ivory and some types of bone are heavy and dense in weight, comparable to a similarly sized billiard ball.
If the piece feels lightweight, you can eliminate the possibility that it's ivory, though it could be bone. If a piece feels solid and heavy, that doesn't necessarily mean it's ivory. This does, however, serve as an indicator that it might be one of the two. If you're unsure whether the item feels appropriately solid, use a scale to weigh it. While the weight of different types of ivory can vary, popular types of ivory, such as tusks, generally weigh about 1. Examine the piece under a black light.
Another type of real ivory comes from hippos, mammoths, wild boar and mastodon. The ivory obtained from Asian elephants is much more white and dense than the tusks of African elephants.
Asian ivory is much softer. The bone will always have pores on the surface and these pores look black or brown. The pores are the result of the blood vessels that run through them. They are not visible to the naked eye. You would have to use a magnifying glass to see them. If you look at the ivory, you will notice that instead of pores, there are some lines.
These lines can be cross-shaped or circular. Fake ivory will have bone or ivory dust. A test can be done to identify the false ivory of the true one. In this test, a person will try to make a hole in the ivory.
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