CAN ANYONE ID THESE CHESS PIECES

[biggmike]

I got this at an estate sale and wonder if anyone knows anything about it. It is a chess piece and I have the complete set. They look hand made because they are all a little different. Maybe Ivory or bone Thanks









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[bigscoop]

Ivory? ask Breezie...the lady is so smart!

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?action=profile;u=48977

I'm thinking possibly alabaster? Are they heavy? Slightly yellowed?

 

[Breezie]

Ivory? ask Breezie...the lady is so smart!

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?action=profile;u=48977

Hey TTee . .now, you're smart too . . .remember we went through college together and had to stoop to posing for 'certain' statues . .LOL.

BigMike, I'm not really familiar with vintage chess sets, but they have a Polynesian look to me. They could be made out of resin, bone, or ivory. I can't tell from the pics, but here is how you can tell the difference:

Use a jeweler's loop or magnifying class to study the surface. Bone will have little tiny pores and most of the time they will look like tiny black specks, which is caused by dirt getting into the pores.

Ivory will have schreger lines, which looks like circular rings. Resin has the weight of ivory, but lacks the ring lines. Some fake ivory is even made with lines, but the fakes have UNIFORM lines, whereas real ivory has irregular lines.

Ivory is generally colder than room temperature. Place one of the chess pieces on your cheek, if it feels cold and has the schreger lines, then it is probably ivory. Resin will feel the same as room temperature. Also you can use a pair of pliers to hold a sewing needle over a candle flame until it is red hot, then try to pierce the chess piece. Ivory cannot be pierced even with a red hot needle, but resin can. Bone will smell like burn hair.

Hopefully this has been helpful. Let me know how your test turned out. Neat chess set Breezie

 

[gadigger81]

Very nice!

 

[Frankn]

Breezie, would that be the statue with no arms? Frank