Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Looking for the texture and color characteristic of ivory
• Method 2 of 3: The hot needle test
• Method 3 of 3: Have the object tested by an expert
• Tips
• Warnings

Ivory consists of the teeth and teeth of elephants, whales and other animals. It is very expensive, in part because it is illegal today to extract ivory from certain sources such as elephants. There are artisans and manufacturers who use counterfeit ivory in carvings and other products. This often looks and feels just like real ivory. However, there are ways to determine whether it is genuine ivory or not, you just have to get to know them. This article discusses ways to learn how to distinguish ivory from bone.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Looking for the texture and color characteristic of ivory

1. Hold the piece in your hand and feel the weight. Ivory feels heavy and compact when you hold it in your hand. Consider the weight of a billiard ball that used to be made of ivory; if you hold one in your hand, it feels sturdy and solid. If the object in question feels remarkably light, you can assume that it is not real ivory.
   • Bone can be exactly the same weight as ivory. The fact that the object feels solid and heavy does not mean that it is indeed ivory.
   • If you are not sure that the object feels solid enough to call it bone or ivory, you can weigh it. Then compare the weight with similar objects that you know are ivory. The Internet is a great resource where you can find the dimensions and weight of ivory items.
2. Run your fingers across the object's surface to feel the texture. Ivory is said to be as smooth as butter. It is not as soft as butter but once it gets into the right hands it is almost as easy to cut. If the surface feels grooved and pockmarked, it is probably not ivory. And if it feels incredibly smooth, you may be dealing with ivory.
3. Examine the object's gloss and surface under a magnifying glass. Although it is not always possible to determine by means of a magnifying glass whether there is real ivory, it can provide interesting clues. Real ivory is shiny and beautiful, often with a slight yellowish hue in it. It may also have a brownish sheen created by the oil in the skin of those who have come into contact with the object over time. But if you see spots or other strange spots, it probably isn't ivory. Look for the following signs:
   • Shaded lines. Parallel lines (with slight irregularities) should run the length of the object. Perpendicular to this, round or V-shaped lines called Schreger lines should be visible. These lines can be seen in all elephant and mammoth ivory.
   • Are there multiple dark spots or pits in the surface? If so, you're probably dealing with bone. In some cases, however, the leg has been bleached, so do other tests to be sure here.
   • All bone objects have the characteristic spots of the bone marrow or small indentations in the surface. While these may not always be visible to the naked eye, you should be able to see them with a magnifying glass. Ivory is also smoother and harder than bone and has no small pits in the surface.

Method 2 of 3: The hot needle test

1. Heat a straight needle. Hold it in a candle flame or lighter flame for a few seconds until the needle becomes hot. Although you can use any piece of metal for this test, a needle is best because it will not leave marks in the object you are testing on.
2. Keep the needle on the surface of the object. Pick a good spot so that you don't create a bump or dot (although that won't happen if it's real ivory).
3. Smell where you touched the object with the needle. When it comes to ivory, there is no scent that was not there before the test. When the leg is, it smells slightly of burnt hair.
   • Real ivory will not be damaged by this experiment because it is hard and strong enough to withstand the heat of the needle. However, if the object is made of plastic, the hot needle will create a small well. Since some plastic items (such as Bakelite) are just as valuable or even more valuable than ivory, it may not be wise to do the hot needle test. If you are sure that the object is not made of plastic, you can of course perform the test without any risk of damage.

Method 3 of 3: Have the object tested by an expert

1. You can also have the item tested by an antique dealer. These often have hundreds or even thousands of ivory, bone and plastic objects in their possession and are often adept at figuring out what materials the various objects are made of. They use the tests described above and also their own knowledge of the ivory trade.
   • Make sure you find a reliable dealer who will value your item. Don't just go into an antique store, make sure you choose one that specializes in ivory so you know the information will most likely be accurate.
   • Antique fairs are good places where you can have objects tested. Check the internet to see if an antiques fair will be held near your hometown anytime soon.
2. You can also have the object tested in a laboratory. Then you will know for sure what your object consists of because the cellular structure of ivory is different from that of bone. You need the measuring instruments of a laboratory to be able to determine this with certainty.

Tips

• Keep in mind that objects made of all kinds of bone also have value.

Warnings

• Always get a second opinion before buying an "antique" item. It is always better to pay an independent appraiser than to spend a lot of dollars on a counterfeit item.