What are these filigree cut plaques made of?

Each plaque on this necklace is about 1 1/2" long and 1" across. They are hand cut and slightly bowed. The corner on one looks odd and may provide a clue:

 

Could be ivory, but possibly celluloid.

 

I think if they were celluloid, or any other plastic, they would be flat, but each has a slight curve to it. I'm reasonably confident they are some natural material. This was an aunt's, so it's probably 50-odd years old. Could be ivory I suppose, but I'm not convinced. If they are ivory, it's a bit of a waste considering the quality of the work.

 

I believe that fracturing or stratification (seen in the detail photo) is what we see in bone sometimes, and would explain the slight curvature.

 

I've had carved bone pendants, and agree that's a possibility.

 

Hi,
I thought if it was bone I would see more little black dots where the blood vessels entered the bone. Isn't there a big nut called "veggie" ivory?
greg

 

If bone goes like that, then I guess these are probably bone. It would have has to be a pretty big bone, but those are out there.

I don't think it's tagua because, again, I would expect that to be flat. I don't know how long-lasting tagua is, but it doesn't seem to be subject to shrinkage or cracking. I found this interesting tidbit online: "In the 1920's, 20 % of all the buttons produced in the U.S. were made of tagua..."

Thanks to all for looking.

 

Bone - similar pendants are still being produced in India. That sponge-like texture shown is usually found near the joints - with vegetable-ivory, it has microscopic pores, they vary in size, but usually takes me 30X magnification to see them clearly.

~Cheryl

 

I'll take that for a confirmation. Thanks.

 

Bone. No doubt at all. The pendant bits were made in India, but that sport ring clasp has me thinking the necklace was assembled elsewhere.

 

Camel bone.

Who knows one way or the other but who loves a camel?

 

Holy low-hanging fruit, Batman.(LOL)