topic Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory in Coins, Stamps, Collectables & Antiques

Help needed on how to identify ivory

trulyspecialgoodies — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 02:33:59 GMT

I have an antique Mah-Jong set and believe the tiles are made of ivory (or bone) backed with bamboo - but I'm not sure. Is there some simple way of telling the difference between plastic and ivory? Any help you experienced collectors can give me would be much appreciated. The wooden chest (with drawers) that this set comes in is decorated with brass fittings - it is 24cm W, 31cm H, and 18cm D. It's extremely heavy and weighs almost 7kg.

Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory

kooriflag — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 07:23:14 GMT

I don't know if you want to try it in an out of the way place...but a hot pin will melt plastic but noy damage ivory. I have seen it done to scrimshaws to date them.

Also good magnification shoud show up the grain in bone which is more obvious than on good ivory

Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory

kooriflag — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 07:24:12 GMT

Please excuse my spelling NOT and SHOULD are what I meant

Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:36:25 GMT

I was going to say the same, a hot needle is often used to distinguish plastic beads from stone/bone. The needle will penetrate the plastic but not the others.

Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory

go-tazz — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:50:46 GMT

There is also a distinctive smell when poked with the needle: http://www.asian-arts.net/oriental-treats/fake.htm

Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory

trulyspecialgoodies — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:30:39 GMT

Thank you all very much for your replies.

Go-tazz, that link was particularly helpful - I quickly dug out my jeweller's loupe (with 20x magnification) and was amazed to see the crosshatch grain which is invisible to the naked eye. I couldn't try the hot needle test since we've recently moved house and we haven't found our sewing kit yet lol.

Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory

oldworldlady — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:15:23 GMT

Any tiny black spots or flecks will indicate bone not ivory, as these are the remains of blood vessels found in bone but not ivory.

Don't go poking hot needles into anything you want to sell jewellery-wise. Buyers don't like needle holes poked into their jewellery. :-x

Re: Help needed on how to identify ivory

gem-boy-g — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:22:25 GMT

further to oldworldlady's advice, hot needles in celluloid pieces can cause it to flare up.