Omar Khalid
Ivory and bone can be similar in appearance, weight, and feel, but there are some key differences to look out for. Firstly, bone will usually appear dry and rough, whereas ivory is smooth with a glossy shine. Ivory is also heavier than plastic and bone, and bone tends to be more porous, giving it a slightly rougher texture. Genuine ivory will have slight colour variations throughout the piece and will display a grain or a series of lines known as Schreger lines, which occur when the tusks grow. These lines may appear V-shaped or like cross-hatching, and can be seen with a magnifying glass. Plastic, on the other hand, will often have a seam that is detectable in a piece of moulded plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Plastic may have a seam, while ivory has circular rings. |
| Feel | Plastic is lighter, while ivory is heavier. |
| Smoothness | Plastic is rough, while ivory is smooth. |
| Sound | Plastic sounds "plasticky". |
| Shine | Plastic does not have a gloss, while ivory does. |
| Pores | Bone has pores, while ivory does not. |
| Black light test | Plastic fluoresces blue or blue/white under black light, while ivory appears white. |
| Hot pin test | If a hot pin goes through the object easily, it is plastic. |
| Grain | Plastic has a repeating pattern with uniform lines, while ivory has a random pattern. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Plastic is lighter than ivory
Plastic is usually lighter than ivory, according to Jeanenne Bell, owner of Jewelry Box Antiques in Kansas City, Missouri. She recommends holding a piece to determine its weight. However, this does take some practice to get a feel for how much an ivory piece should weigh.
Ivory is made from the tusks and teeth of elephants, whales, and several other animals. As a result, ivory tends to be more valuable and highly priced than plastic and is more regulated.
While bone and ivory can be similar in appearance, weight, and feel, bone is porous and tends to feel slightly rougher than ivory. Plastic, on the other hand, is smoother than ivory. One can often come across cross-graining or diamond-shaped cross-graining on the surface of ivory, which is not present on plastic.
There are other ways to distinguish ivory from plastic. For example, plastics give off a warm feeling, whereas ivory gives a cool feeling. Plastic can be moulded into any shape, which is not possible with ivory. Additionally, plastic will feel warmer than ivory.
Maui's Beaches: Plastic Pollution Crisis
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ivory has a glossy shine
Ivory is a hard, white material that is sourced from the tusks and teeth of animals, most commonly elephants. It has a distinctive glossy shine, which can be used to help distinguish it from plastic. While bone and ivory can be similar in appearance, weight, and feel, there are several ways to differentiate between the two materials.
Firstly, ivory has a measured hardness of 35 on the Vickers scale, which is higher than that of bone. This means that ivory will feel smoother and harder than bone. If you run your finger over the surface of the material, you may be able to detect tiny pores, which are indicative of bone, rather than ivory. Bone tends to feel slightly rougher than ivory due to its porous nature.
Secondly, you can examine the object under magnification. Use a handheld magnifying glass to carefully inspect the surface structure of the material. Ivory will often show cross-hatches on its surface when viewed under magnification, whereas plastic will appear non-descript. You may also be able to see the distinctive circular rings on ivory, which are similar to the rings on a tree.
Another way to distinguish ivory from plastic is to use your sense of touch. Ivory weighs more than plastic, so pick up the object and assess how it feels in your hand. It may take some practice to get a feel for the weight of ivory, but this can be a helpful way to differentiate it from plastic.
Finally, you can use your sense of sight. Look closely at the object for a seam, which is often detectable in a piece of molded plastic. The glossy shine of ivory may also be a visual indicator, as plastic can appear more "plasticky" in appearance.
A Guide to Installing Window Plastic Over Blinds
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Bone is porous
The porous nature of bone makes it susceptible to staining if left in contact with corroded metals such as copper or iron. It is important to note that not all bones have the same level of porosity. The bones of sea mammals, for example, tend to have a higher proportion of spongy material than the bones of land mammals.
When trying to distinguish between bone and ivory, examining the surface with a magnifying glass or microscope can reveal the presence of pores, indicating that the material is bone. This method can be useful as bone and ivory can be similar in appearance, weight, and feel, with ivory generally being smoother and denser than bone due to its non-porous nature.
It is important to handle bone and ivory objects with care as they can be fragile and susceptible to damage from insects, mould, and chemical degradation. Additionally, certain cleaning methods, such as wet cleaning, should be avoided on porous surfaces to prevent further damage.
Plastic Sinks, Metal Rises: Why Do They Behave Differently?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ivory has a grain
One of the key ways to tell plastic from bone ivory is to examine its grain. Ivory has a grain, and this is one of the main ways to tell it apart from plastic or bone. The grain in natural ivory is random, with lines of irregular thickness and spacing, and no noticeable repeating pattern. On the other hand, artificial ivory usually has a repeating pattern with uniform, even lines.
Genuine ivory is made from the tusks and teeth of elephants, whales, and several other animals. It has a unique pattern of cross-hatching that can be seen in cross-sections of elephant tusks. This is known as the Schreger pattern, a checkerboard-like attribute often used in ivory identification. The grain in genuine ivory can fade over time, especially if exposed to bright sunlight, and large pieces can develop cracks.
Artificial ivory, such as celluloid, has had attempts to replicate grain for over 100 years. However, the grain in artificial ivory is usually easy to detect due to its repeating pattern. Plastics and resins have no grain.
To examine the grain, use a handheld magnifying glass to carefully inspect the surface structure. You can also place the base of the object on a photocopier or scanner to get a hard copy image, then use a protractor to measure the angles of the intersecting lines. If the angle of intersection is less than 90 degrees, it is likely mammoth ivory; if it's more than 115 degrees, it's probably elephant ivory.
Islands Battle Plastic Pollution: Strategies and Solutions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic often has seams
When distinguishing ivory from plastic, one of the key indicators is the presence of seams. Plastic often has seams, which can be detected by looking at and feeling the object carefully. Jeanenne Bell, owner of Jewelry Box Antiques in Kansas City, Missouri, recommends examining the object for seams, as they are often detectable in moulded plastic.
Seams in plastic can be observed as lines or ridges on the surface, which may be raised or prominent in some cases. These seams are formed during the manufacturing process of plastic items, especially when moulding or joining two plastic parts together. The seams can be a result of the moulding process, where plastic is injected into a mould and then cooled, leaving behind traces of the mould's edges or boundaries. Alternatively, seams can be created when multiple plastic components are welded or bonded together, resulting in visible lines where the pieces connect.
In the context of antiques or valuable objects, the presence of seams is a strong indicator of plastic rather than ivory. Ivory, being a natural material derived from the tusks and teeth of animals, does not typically exhibit seams unless artificially modified. However, it is worth noting that ivory may have natural growth lines or circular rings that can be observed with the naked eye or under magnification. These lines are similar to the growth rings found in trees and are a result of the natural formation process of ivory.
While seams are a notable indicator of plastic, it is important to consider other factors as well. Plastic and ivory can vary significantly in weight, with ivory often feeling denser and heavier than plastic. Additionally, the smoothness and hardness of the surface can be indicative, as ivory tends to feel very smooth and durable to the touch. Examining the object under magnification can also reveal distinct differences in surface structure between plastic and ivory. Plastic may appear non-descript under magnification, while ivory exhibits unique characteristics like cross-hatches or fine lines.
In summary, the presence of seams is a crucial factor in distinguishing plastic from ivory. However, it should not be the sole determining factor, and a combination of observational, tactile, and comparative tests should be employed to make a more confident assessment.
Install Corrugated Plastic Roofing: Easy Steps for Success
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Bone ivory will feel rougher than plastic due to its porous nature. Plastic is usually lighter than bone ivory, so you can also differentiate the two by picking them up.
Plastic will often have seams from being moulded, whereas bone ivory will have circular rings, like the rings of a tree.
You can use a hot pin test, but this is not recommended as it can damage the piece. A non-invasive test is to use a magnifying glass to check for the grain of the material. Plastic will have a repeating pattern of parallel lines, whereas bone ivory will have tiny black dots and small dark-coloured holes.
Bone ivory can feel smooth and hard, similar to ivory, but it is usually rougher.
Bone ivory will have small black specks, slashes and pockmarks.
