Thread: Ivory, Bone or Both?

What do you think?

Also, take a look at this for identifying specific types of ivory by description http://www.uniclectica.com/conserva/ivory1.html If they are ivory, what creatures do you think lost their lives for these razors?

Impossible to say from pictures. For Ivory you need to put it under magnification to see the geometry of the grain to tell the animal. Most vintage razors were elephant however there's also Narwhale, Walrus,Mammouth. Also fossilized Elk (they actually had Ivory tusks and modern elk have Ivory rear molars)

They're both ivory. I still don't know what animal(s) gave its life or their lives for these scales.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

They're both ivory. I still don't know what animal(s) gave its life or their lives for these scales.

It wasn't a duck but it sure did tase good! PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals.

They both appear to be ivory but it is unusual to see ivory scales with collars under the pins. They may be transplanted - not that it makes any difference.

Originally Posted by John Crowley

They both appear to be ivory but it is unusual to see ivory scales with collars under the pins. They may be transplanted - not that it makes any difference.

they could be transplanted. One side looks like a different kind of ivory than the other side, both in color and grain pattern

Both ivory!

I have a box that is carved out of walrus ivory and the one with pins has the same grain.

I voted Ivory, because you said they were. I wanted the $10 for the casino. They're very different. Is that due to the individual ivory do you think, or the different treatment they've received over the years?

It is hard to tell from a picture for the reasons already listed, however, if they are really thin I always lead toward ivory, other materials usually can't be cut that thin.

Crom