IVORY FOR POMMEL

[tanaruz]

Originally Posted by 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.

Hi,

Did some 'polishing'- and it smells like burned 'enamel.' must be the 'dentist' smell.

I did contact an expert on this things. Sent her some pictures. Initially, there's the presence of Schreger lines + crosshatch pattern on the tooth.

And I was advised to bring the item to her for a visual verification.

Thanks and regards,

Yves

[tanaruz]

Hi again,

forgot to include another test which I did (upon the instruction of the jeweller).

I got a needle, had it red hot on the fire and tried to pierce the tooth. - and voila, it did not went into the tooth.

Best

Yves

[mariusgmioc]

The geometry of the cracks is consistent with ivory.

From all I know there are some ivorine resins that crack, but without round/circular cracks. Round/circular cracks are specific to ivory as they follow the growth rings.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

The geometry of the cracks is consistent with ivory.

From all I know there are some ivorine resins that crack, but without round/circular cracks. Round/circular cracks are specific to ivory as they follow the growth rings.

Thanks very much sir!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by tanaruz

I did contact an expert on this things. Sent her some pictures. Initially, there's the presence of Schreger lines + crosshatch pattern on the tooth.

And I was advised to bring the item to her for a visual verification.

Hi Yves,

Sperm whale tooth shows no Schreger lines so far I know, only elephant ivory shows this lines.

Regards,
Detlef