Pathway 10 Posted March 21, 2012 Hi, I need some help please. How can I tell the difference between ivory, and white polished bone? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
admin 0 Posted March 21, 2012 (edited) Hi Pathway, Ivory has a very fine grain, almost like a woodgrain and has more of a polished look than bone. Found this on the www A quick and easy method to distinguish between real and fake ivory is by use of a UV light. Real ivory (regardless of animal species) fluoresces under UV light, manufactured plastic imitation ivory does not. The following is taken from the CITES web-site, which has an exceedingly detailed (and highly technical) article on the topic of ivory identification and authentication. ‘Regardless of the appearance or chemical composition of the manufactured ivory substitutes, they all share a common identifying characteristic. When ultraviolet light is shined on manufactured ivory products they absorb the ultraviolet light exhibiting a dull blue appearance. Ivory, on the other hand, has a white/blue fluorescent appearance.’ Edited March 21, 2012 by admin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayjen 10 Posted March 21, 2012 Someone told me about the grain or lines in one of then but hell I can't remember which one has which. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geewhizz 20 Posted March 21, 2012 (edited) Ivory has a grain that runs in lines that are curvy. Bone does not have a grain and often has knots. Ivory is often imitated but the lines in imitation ivory are always straight lines. This link has good images of the differance between bone and ivory. www.antiquegamblingchips.com/distinguish_iv_bon_cel.htm I must stress that ivory can have a straight lined grain but will always curve somewhere in those lines. Edited March 21, 2012 by geewhizz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
