Posted 4 years ago
Foundobjec…
(1 item)
This was something my grandfather got while stationed in Hawaii during WW2. No idea what it’s made of. Wish the label had the other part of it left so I could identify it.
Line of elephants from Hawaii during WW2 | ||
| Elephants47 of 588 |  |  |
I have seen the form in elephant ivory, tusk carving.
This doesn't look like ivory or bone and doesn't show much quality. Almost has a ceramic look to it.
Doesn't look like it has significant age to it either. Often acquisition stories get confused over time/ generations.
scott
Thanks Scott. In this case we have a pic of my grandfather when he got it in the 40’s so it’s certainly Not a case of acquisitions story confusion as you mentioned. It feels very cold to the touch so I was concerned it may be ivory but I believe if it was Ivory it would be longer. My guess is it some kind of bone. I am 50 and it is definitely been around since I was a baby because I can see it in photos when I was at their house near the display case of elephants as an infant. I’m not sure how I would go about testing it but it does have intricate detail and each one is slightly different so it was handcarved out of some thing. Just not sure what.
Also the old ivory japanese version of this has 6 elephants and no carving on the bridge..
There is the hot needle test (find info online), but many folks consider it destructive.
Here a link to a downloadable guide that may prove helpful:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/identification-guide-for-ivory-and-ivory-substitutes#:~:text=The%20Identification%20Guide%20for%20Ivory,of%20ivories%20and%20their%20substitutes.
Keep us posted!
scott