I bought something before the ivory ban

[Marthe48]

It is a thermometer lightly carved with the numbers (20 to 130 degrees) and an F. and what looks like lily of the valley flowers and leaves. It looks like bone or a whale or walrus tooth. I didn't pay much for it. It was lost in the packed boxes in the basement for at least 5 years, and I just found it today. The bone part has 2 holes in the bottom that fit on pegs on a round stand. The stand looks machine made, but the pegs look hand carved. I can't make up my mind if the thermometer is bone or plastic of some kind. The carved tooth is about 6" tall and the base has 3 little round feet and is about 1" tall and about 2" across.

If it were a natural material, I know I couldn't sell it, but are there any sites that could help me decide if it is a natural or man made material? Years ago, there was a man in our town who carved modern scrimshaw. I got this at a local sale years ago, so it might be something he did. But the carving looks vintage and like folk art.

I don't know how to post pictures on DU. I am going to take some tomorrow and see if Talking Antiques on Facebook will let me post it there. They banned ivory sales, but I just want an opinion about the material and go from there.

I found a whale tooth thermometer on a British auction site. The item I have is straighter, but this gives you an idea of what I am looking for: https://www.sworder.co.uk/auction/lot/149-an-unusual-whale-tooth-desk-thermometer/?lot=245597&so=4&st=whale&sto=0&au=&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=1&pp=25&pn=1&g=-1

[safeinOhio]

1. If it's ivory

you should see some grain lines an if old it will be a little darker than white in places. Another way to tell if is plastic, you can heat up a needle and hold against it and the smell will let you it’s plastic

Not sure about the law now. Have had any in years. Wonder about pool balls and older piano keys?

[Marthe48]

2. I just don't know what I'm looking at

I see some lines, and there are cracks that are darker than the surface. There is a chip off the tip and the interior is very white, compared to the outer surface.

I heard that all ivory sales, no matter how old the item, were banned for sale in the U.S. and some other countries. At the time I bought this, that ban hadn't been made law.

I read a long time ago, that many piano keys were made from celluloid, but don't know much more than that

[safeinOhio]

3. That is what heard too.

Might try the hot pin. You’ll a small whisp of smoke to smell.
Sounds like it might be legal to own. Just hang on to it

[Uben]

4. Is it illegal to sell animal bone in the U.S.?

Last edited Thu Sep 3, 2020, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)

I have an oosik, about 22" long. My dad got it at a garage sale 45-50 years ago. The lady said her husband used it to check tires(he was a truckdriver) Dad kept it for personal protection since he commuted daily. He only gave a couple of bucks for it, but I've see em go for hundreds on Ebay!

If, like me, you aren't familiar with the term oosik, this one is the mineralized penis bone of an extinct giant walrus! Inuits carve them like ivory, and they are used for knife handles and such. i'm pretty sure its legal to own, but it is illegal to sell in Alaska unless they are carved.

[Marthe48]

5. I wasn't familiar with the term

I read that many cultures use the entire animal their hunters kill. I guess by checking tires, it was the air valve?

I get the feeling that my thermometer is probably some kind of plastic. It is so smooth and regular in shape. I have been so busy since I posted my comment, I haven't got around to a pin test.

Thanks for posting such an interesting story.