2011. Artificial Ivory

2011.     Artificial Ivory. The process by which the most successful imitation of natural ivory is obtained appears to consist in dissolving either india-rubber or gutta-percha in chloroform, passing chlorine through the solution until it has acquired a light yellow tint, next washing well with alcohol, then adding, in fine powder, either sulphate of baryta, sulphate of lime, sulphate of lead, alumina, or chalk, in quantity proportioned to the desired density and tint, kneading well, and finally subjecting to heavy pressure. A very tough product, capable of taking a very high polish, is obtainable in this way.

2012. Horn

2012.     Horn. For practical purposes, the horns of the goat and sheep are preferred for their whiteness and transparency.

2013. To Dye Horn

2013.     To Dye Horn. Horn is dyed with the same dyes, and in the same manner, as ivory. (See Nos. 1982 (To Color or Dye Ivory or Bone), etc..)

2014. To Prepare Horn

2014.     To Prepare Horn. Horn is softened by sawing it into plates or sheets, and then exposing it to powerful pressure between hot iron plates. Before pressing, the pith has to be removed, and the texture softened, first by soaking for some days, and then boiling in water.

2015. To Unite Horn

2015.    To Unite Horn. The surfaces and edges of pieces of horn may be united or cemented together by softening by the heat of boiling water, then placing the parts in contact under strong pressure in a vise, and again exposing to the heat of boiling water.

2016. To Dye or Stain Horn Tortoise-sheU Color

2016.    To Dye or Stain Horn Tortoise-sheU Color. The horn to be dyed must be first pressed into proper plates, scales, or other flat form, and the following mixture prepared: Take of quicklime 2 parts, and litharge 1 part; temper them together to the consistence of a soft paste, with soap lye. Put this paste over all the parts of the horn, except such as are proper to be left transparent, in order to give it a near resemblance to the tortoise-shell. The horn must remain in this manner covered with the paste till it is thoroughly dry; when, the paste being brushed off, the horn will be found partly opaque and partly transparent, in the manner of tortoise-shell, and, when put over a foil of Dutch gold metal, will be scarcely distinguishable from it. It requires some degree of fancy and judgment to dispose of the paste in such a manner as to form a variety of transparent parts, of different magnitudes and figures, to look like the effect of nature; and it will be an improvement to add semi-transparent parts, which may be done by mixing whiting with some of the paste, to weaken its operation in particular places, by which spots of a reddish-brown will be produced, which, if properly interspersed, especially on the edges of the dark parts, will greatly increase the beauty of the work, and its similitude to real tortoise-shell.