I just found an interesting website that gives hints on distinguishing ivory and bone (plus other similar materials.) http://members.lycos.co.uk/lazyjacks/button2.htm
This is an excerpt: _____________________ Ivory: No odour with hot needle test. Hard to penetrate. May leave a brown residue in the immediate burned area. a.. Very fine grain, almost tooth-like. b.. Colour can be white to deep cream. c.. Takes a very high polish, usually very fine workmanship, almost like a waxy lustre. d.. With a sharp knife one can NOT scrape off a fine powder as on bone. e.. Very old ivory buttons may need a curved needle to be sewed on. f.. Can NOT be softened enough to mould. g.. Cracking may be caused by heat and humidity. h.. Will look white under a black light. Works best if done in a dark area. (Black light is UV light. Avoid shining into your eyes.) i.. If placed in water it will float, or sink very slowly Bone: No odour with the hot needle test. a.. Use a magnifying glass to see tiny black flex from the blood vessels in the bone, called "splinters". b.. Grain lines go in one direction, colours can be white to deep cream. c.. With a sharp knife one can scrape off a very fine powder. Usually not self-shank. Can be dyed. d.. Coarser or porous look. e.. Cannot be softened enough to mould . f.. May yellow with age. _____________________ Carole Dublin, OH USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
