Ethan Clarke
Dominoes were traditionally made from ivory obtained from elephant tusks, but due to the material's value and the threat it poses to elephants, plastic alternatives have become more common. To determine whether dominoes are made of ivory or plastic, you can perform a few simple tests. Firstly, examine the dominoes under a bright light or direct sunlight. Ivory dominoes will have a smooth, creamy texture with gradually rounded corners, while plastic dominoes will have sharper, more angled corners. Next, hold a domino in your palm to gauge its weight—ivory is dense and weighty, so a lightweight domino is likely not made of ivory. Finally, inspect the domino's surface under a magnifying glass for a fine grain pattern, which is characteristic of genuine ivory. While these tests can provide strong indications, the most accurate way to identify ivory is to consult a specialist, such as a jeweller.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Weight | Ivory dominoes are weighty and dense, whereas plastic dominoes are light and insubstantial. |
| Texture | Ivory dominoes have a smooth and creamy texture with gradually rounded corners. Plastic dominoes have sharp, clearly angled corners. |
| Appearance | Ivory has a fine grain and a natural pattern reminiscent of the inside of a cut piece of wood. |
| Heat test | When a red-hot pin is poked into ivory, it will not penetrate and only leave a tiny mark. On plastic, it will create a small crater. |
| Smell test | When a red-hot pin is poked into ivory, the smoke will smell like burning teeth. When plastic is heated, it smells like burning plastic. |
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What You'll Learn
Weight: ivory dominos are dense and weighty
One of the ways to determine whether dominoes are made of ivory or plastic is by feeling their weight. Place a domino in the palm of your hand to feel its weight. If it feels light and insubstantial, it is not ivory. Ivory dominoes are dense and weighty. However, it is worth noting that some ivory dominoes may not feel "heavy", but they should still feel weightier than plastic dominoes.
The density and weight of ivory are due to its composition as a hard, dense substance made from the tusks of elephants. As ivory grew in value, people began killing elephants specifically for their ivory. This practice has led to concerns about the ethical and legal implications of trading in ivory products. It is important to be aware of any laws or regulations in your country that prohibit the trade or purchase of ivory.
When examining the weight of dominoes, it is also essential to consider the presence of other materials that may affect their overall weight. For example, some dominoes might have metal pins or brass inlay, which would increase their weight compared to plastic dominoes. However, these additional materials do not necessarily indicate that the dominoes are made of ivory.
In addition to weight, there are other tests you can perform to determine whether dominoes are made of ivory or plastic. One such test involves examining the texture and finish of the dominoes. Ivory dominoes will have a smooth and creamy finish with gradually rounded corners. On the other hand, plastic or synthetic materials will typically have sharp, clearly angled corners.
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Texture: ivory feels smooth and creamy with rounded corners
One of the ways to determine whether dominoes are made of ivory or plastic is by feeling the texture of the dominoes. Ivory dominoes will feel smooth and creamy with very gradually rounded corners. On the other hand, sharp, clearly angled corners are likely to indicate that the dominoes are made of plastic or other synthetic materials.
To test the texture, set up a very bright light near the area where the dominoes will be examined. Direct sunlight is a good substitute for lighting. Place one of the dominoes in your palm to feel its weight. If it feels light and insubstantial, it is not ivory, as ivory is a dense and weighty material.
Once you have determined that the dominoes are likely made of ivory based on their weight, you can proceed with examining their texture. Feel the finish of the dominoes to determine whether they feel smooth and creamy. If the corners are very gradually rounded, this is another indicator that the dominoes are made of ivory.
It is important to note that the texture of ivory can vary depending on its source. For example, ivory from the tusks of elephants, which was commonly used for dominoes in the past, may have a different texture than ivory from other sources. Additionally, the processing and manufacturing techniques used can also affect the final texture of the ivory dominoes.
In addition to texture, there are other tests that can be performed to determine whether dominoes are made of ivory or plastic. One such test involves using a hot pin or needle to poke the domino. If it is real ivory, the needle will not penetrate and will only leave a tiny mark. Additionally, the smoke produced during this test will have a distinctive smell similar to that of a burning tooth. However, it is important to exercise caution when performing this test, as it may damage the dominoes or pose a safety risk if not done properly.
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Appearance: use a magnifying glass to look for a fine grain
To tell if dominoes are made of ivory or plastic, you can inspect their appearance using a magnifying glass. Look closely at the sides of the domino piece for a fine grain. All forms of genuine ivory have a natural pattern that is reminiscent of the inside of a cut piece of wood. If the dominoes are made of plastic, you will not be able to see this grain pattern.
If you do find a grain pattern, you can bring the domino to a jeweller to help identify which form of ivory you have. You can also perform other tests to confirm if the dominoes are made of ivory. For example, set up a very bright light near the area you will be checking the dominoes to have as much visibility as possible. Direct sunlight is a good substitute for lighting. Place one of the dominoes in your palm to feel the weight of the piece. Ivory is a dense and weighty material, so if the domino feels light and insubstantial, it is not ivory.
Another test is to take a pin, large needle, or safety pin and heat the tip until it is red-hot. Poke the item in an area that will not be too noticeable. If it is real ivory, the pin will not penetrate and will only leave a tiny mark. If it is plastic or resin, the pin will enter the item and produce a small crater. You can also smell the smoke that comes off the test. If it is real ivory, it will smell like burning teeth, whereas if it is plastic, it will smell like burning plastic.
Please note that it is illegal to trade or purchase ivory in many countries, so be sure to check the laws in your country before dealing in ivory products.
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Heat test: heat a pin and push into the domino—ivory won't be penetrated
To tell if dominoes are made of ivory or plastic, you can perform a heat test using a pin. This test involves heating a pin, such as a large needle or safety pin, until it is red-hot, and then carefully pushing it into the domino. If the pin penetrates the domino and creates a small crater, it is likely made of plastic or resin. If the pin does not penetrate and only leaves a tiny mark, it may be made of ivory.
It is important to note that genuine ivory dominoes are often quite dense and weighty due to the nature of the material. Therefore, if the domino in question feels light and insubstantial, it is likely not made of ivory. In addition to the weight, you can also feel the finish of the domino to determine its texture. Ivory dominoes will typically feel smooth and creamy, with gradually rounded corners. On the other hand, plastic or synthetic materials will usually have sharper, more angled corners.
When performing the heat test, it is important to choose a spot on the domino that will not be too noticeable in case the test leaves a mark. Additionally, it is crucial to be cautious when handling the heated pin to avoid any accidents or injuries. If the domino is made of ivory, the smoke produced during the test will have a distinctive smell similar to that of a dentist's office or burning tooth. This smell can help differentiate it from burning plastic.
It is worth mentioning that some older domino sets may be stamped with information indicating their materials or origin, such as the "Hang On Ivory Factory in Hong Kong." However, the absence of such markings does not necessarily mean the dominoes are not ivory, as some genuine ivory dominoes may not have such stamps.
Performing a combination of these tests, including the heat test, weight, texture, and smell evaluation, can help determine whether a domino is made of ivory or plastic.
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Smell test: if it smells like burning plastic, it is plastic
One way to determine whether dominoes are made of ivory or plastic is through a smell test. This test involves heating the tip of a pin, needle, or safety pin until it becomes red-hot and then poking the item in a spot that won't be too noticeable. If the domino is made of plastic, the hot pin will create a small crater, and the smoke produced will smell like burning plastic. On the other hand, if the domino is made of ivory, the pin will only leave a tiny mark, and the smoke will have a distinctive odour similar to burning teeth, like that of a root canal procedure.
It is important to note that this test should be performed with caution to avoid injury or damage to the domino. Additionally, it is not the only method for distinguishing ivory from plastic. Other tests can be conducted in conjunction with the smell test to increase accuracy.
One such test involves examining the weight and texture of the dominoes. Ivory is a dense and weighty material, so if a domino feels light, it is likely not made of ivory. Additionally, ivory dominoes typically have smooth and creamy surfaces with gradually rounded corners, while sharp and clearly angled corners suggest the presence of plastic or other synthetic materials.
The lighting condition during the examination can also aid in the identification process. Setting up a bright light or utilising direct sunlight can enhance visibility and make it easier to detect subtle differences in texture and finish between ivory and plastic dominoes.
By combining the smell test with these additional evaluation techniques, one can more confidently discern whether a set of dominoes is crafted from ivory or plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
Dominoes made of ivory will feel weighty and dense, whereas plastic dominoes will feel light and insubstantial. Ivory dominoes will also have gradually rounded corners and a smooth, creamy texture. Plastic dominoes, on the other hand, will have sharp, clearly angled corners.
Examine the surface of the domino under a magnifying glass. Look for a fine grain on the sides of the piece. All forms of genuine ivory will have a natural pattern that resembles the inside of a cut piece of wood.
If you find a grain pattern, you can take your dominoes to a jeweler to help identify the type of ivory.
Set up a bright light or direct sunlight to illuminate the dominoes. Place one domino in your palm and assess its weight and texture. Ivory will feel heavier and smoother than plastic.
You can try the hot pin test. Heat the tip of a pin, needle, or safety pin until it is red-hot and then poke the domino. If it is ivory, the pin will not penetrate and will only leave a tiny mark. If it is plastic, the pin will create a small crater. Additionally, ivory will smell like burning teeth when heated, while plastic will smell like burning plastic.
