Featured Dragon Carving Material Need Help

that's a carved bone !!

 

Thanks. I was reading up on bone and they say it has the black spots in it which this doesnt. Can it still be bone?

 

Phew.

Yes it can. And I agree with @komokwa , it is carved bone.

 

Maori carved bone pendant, no black spots:


https://tuwharetoabone.com/collections/maori-necklace-bone-carving-collection/products/pekapeka-2

 

I think it was poor lighting in the picture because i am looking at the same breaking point and the color change is not the drastic as it is in the photo. Sending some better views

 

Ok awesome. Thanks for all your help.

 

You're welcome, that's what we're here for. (and for some fun)

 

....Boatload of Fun......with the occasional helpful post !!!!!

 

I didn't want to put him off on his first day.

 

Hi Norm,
I am sorry that I did not welcome you to the board. I was so upset about the hot pin test that I forgot my manners. So welcome to the board.
greg

 

Plus, the resin could have had finishing touches added by hand. This is done with some molded cameos. The Chinese are phenomenally expert at faking ivory objects...imo.

Significantly smaller than OP. However, there is hope for bone in this photo:



It is not a single piece.

In a way, it's too bad if it's bone, since it looks so much like resin.

 

This is being sold as ivory, although none of the photos convinces me it is:



https://moorabool.com/product/chinese-ivory-dragon-19th-century/

It's about the same length as OP.

 

good point....as always....it would be nice to have it in hand.

 

I.......have no such qualms !!! hardy har har...

 

https://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/436550/antique-ivory-chinese-hand-carved-dragon/#

By comparison.

 

That's a real deficit in trying to figure this out from pix & description.

@Norm Do you know what the 'tooth test' for pearls is? I find it is useful for other natural materials & their lookalikes too. You rub (or I kind of nibble) the material being tested against the edge of your incisors. Man made materials that look shiny feel glassy against the teeth; in my experience, things that grew naturally have some kind of grain to them, & the teeth can often detect it. The result of this test isn't the final word, but it could be evidence one way or the other. Have you looked at various surfaces with magnification to see if there is any sign of growth lines?

We'd love to be able to handle it. Doing our best to gather what info we can.

 

You guys all yelled at me for doing the hot pin test, when I was new here.
After I ran away and cried a bit, I came back and all is forgiven

 

If Norm's hot needle test was completely negative & didn't melt resin or leave a burn mark on ivory or bone, then what's left? I'm not sure how hot a needle would have to be to make a dent in a modern polymer. Maybe a pin doesn't stay hot enough for long enough.

 

Sorry, I missed seeing that you had performed the hot pin test.

Have you checked extremely up-close under a magnifying glass perhaps?

Here is a picture showing ivory grain in a polished item.


Here is a picture showing ivory cross-hatch pattern in the base of the same polished item.

 

I cannot abide cruelty to pins..... They have feelings too you know. How'd you like being heated to red hot and jabbed into things? Show some compassion damn it....