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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bronwen, post: 9734288, member: 5833&quot;]I have spent some time looking at my own collections, which include a large number of Zuni carvings, a large number of cameos, and a fair number of intact seashells of various types.&nbsp; I have at least 3 Zuni pieces with hummingbirds that are quite similar to this one, except taller.&nbsp; Those 3 are all antler.&nbsp; I also found a little antler maiden with an olla on her head, carved from the tip of an antler point, who is so highly polished you could mistake her for tooth or tusk.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Zuni, at least when I was actively collecting, a period that would have included 2003, do not use shell very much.&nbsp; I&#039;m not sure what type of shell &amp; what part of a shell could be used to produce a shape like this one.&nbsp; Frankly, I cannot see how anyone could see this as shell.&nbsp; It does not look particularly glossy to me.</p><p><br /></p><p>I still believe strongly that this is antler, but there is one other possibility based on size &amp; coloring: walrus tooth.&nbsp; The test is UV light.&nbsp; Antler just reflects the purple back; walrus tooth absorbs it, stays the same color as in ordinary mixed lighting &amp; gleams compared to most other materials.&nbsp; Shell also reflects back the purple.</p><p><br /></p><p>Then there is the matter of density, something photos can&#039;t convey.&nbsp; An antler piece of this size would be extremely light.&nbsp; A walrus tooth will feel more solid in the hand.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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