Posted 10 years ago
PPRT
(1 item)
This was in a box of interesting items donated to a vintage store where I work. It's heavy, solid, smooth and definitely ivory (I even did the pin test, although I was sure beforehand). We won't sell it, of course, because it's ivory. But I would love to figure out what it is! Measures 1 1/4" high by 1 1/4" wide, and about 3/4" deep. It appears to be two pieces glued together: both the back and front sides have the same markings, which are carved into the ivory and blackened. The ivory could be walrus tooth; it has the right size and shape. I've searched and searched for what this might be -- homemade dominoes? Antique dice? An eskimo carving? The necklace is nothing special, and appears to be glued on. I included a photo with one side view of the piece that shows what looks like a hole filled in with a slivery metal (the other side doesn't have it, just the same carved angles). I like this odd little piece, but it's frustrating me! Any ideas would be much appreciated! :-)
I am thinking this was made as a pendent attempting to look like a roman die from antiquity: http://66.172.6.103/images/roman/bone/dice-14side-20273.jpg
T A
Good thought, TubeAmp! I wondered about a die, but hadn't seen that image. It does look familiar, just without the lines. That sliver place is strange, too... do walruses get fillings? :-)
I guess it was his sweet tooth ;)
T A
Now there's some biting wit... ! One more thought about this item: why would someone cut it in half and glue it back together again? Another mystery...
It may have split naturally, which makes that metal pin a way to secure it back together. Is the pin crossing or bridging the crack and visible on both sides?
T A
And what do thrift stores do with donations that can't be sold? (By the way, it's still legal to sell ivory in some states depending on the age and provenance)
TA: The metal only goes in one side; it looks like a plug.
davyd: Ivory sale is complicated (esp. because we're in CA and we can't prove this item's age or origin) so we may end up donating it to a museum, etc. As far as general items, we route items that don't work for the store to a big rummage sale we do annually -- or we take things to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. We try not to waste anything. Good question!