IVORY FOR POMMEL

[tanaruz]

Hello,

This is supposed to be a sperm whale tooth. Purchased from a seller who informed us that it came from tawi-tawi, from way way back.

My plan, if indeed this is sperm whale tooth, is to use it as a pommel to an old barung or kris (which has no pommel).

I've done some reading and this specimen conforms (in my unexpert opinion) to ivory. The ff are some things I have read on ivory's characteristics:

a) ivory always has parallel grain, like rings on a tree or crosshatch pattern called Schreger lines. On closer inspection, this tooth has both parallel and crosshatch patters.

b) in contrast to bone, ivory has a smooth feel.

Thanks in advance for you inputs.

Regards

Yves

[thomas hauschild]

Please show a pic of the root-hole. This will make it a little bit more clear.

[thomas hauschild]

Sperm whale real and fake/resin

[thomas hauschild]

Walrus real and fake/resin

[tanaruz]

Hello,

Many thanks for the initial info. Here are some more pics.

Thanks in advace.

Yves

[mariusgmioc]

Very difficult to judge from photos alone, but from what I see, it looks like resin.

You can easily test it ether trying to burn a tiny piece of it or by simply polishing it and you'll see how it behaves. If it melts and smells like plastic is resin, if it smells like "dentist" it is ivory.

[LJ]

A non-destructive test is to use an ultra-violet light (I bought one of these fairly cheaply at a local shop that sells electronics). Ivory has a distinctive blue sheen, which resin does not have: I recommend a bit of practice, shining the lamp on plastic, bone, etc. so you can see the effect.

Incidentally, horn shines light brown when lit by ultra-violet light. Which is a useful test if you can't decide whether something is made from horn or wood.

[Rafngard]

You should definitely take Sajen's word over mine on everything!