This section is from the "Encyclopedia Of Practical Receipts And Processes" book, by William B. Dick. Also available from Amazon: Dick's encyclopedia of practical receipts and processes.
Ivory, Alabaster. The following receipts relate to the manipulation of ivory, bone, alabaster, meerschaum, horn, tortoise-shell, pearl, and marble.
1982. To Color or Dye Ivory or Bone. "With regard to dyeing ivory, it may in general be observed, that the colors penetrate better before the surface is polished than afterwards. Should any dark spots appear, they may be cleared up by rubbing them with chalk; after which the ivory should be dyed once more, to produce a perfect uniformity of shade. On taking it out of the boiling hot dye bath, it should be plunged immediately into cold water, to prevent the chance of fissures being caused by the heat. Ivory may be dyed by any of the ordinary methods employed for woolens, after being freed from dirt and grease; but more quickly as follows :
1983. To Dye Ivory Black. The ivory, being well washed in an alkaline lye, is steeped in a weak neutral solution of nitrate of silver, and then exposed to the light, or dried and dipped into a weak solution of hy-drosulphuret of ammonia.
1984. To Dye Ivory Deep Black. A still finer and deeper black may be obtained by boiling the ivory for some time in a strained decoction of logwood, and then steeping it in a solution of red sulphate, or red acetate of iron.
1985. To Dye Ivory Bed. Make an infusion of cochineal in water of ammonia, then immerse the pieces therein, having previously soaked them for a few minutes in water very slightly acidulated with aquafortis.
1986. Fine Bed Dye for Ivory. A beautiful red color may be imparted to ivory thus : Take 4 parts, by weight, picric acid, and dissolve in 250 parts boiling water; add, after cooling, 8 parts liquid ammonia. Dissolve also 2 parts crystallized fuchsine (magenta) in 45 parts alcohol, dilute with 375 parts hot water, and next add 50 parts ammonia. As soon as the red color of the magenta solution has disappeared, the two solutions are mixed together. Ivory and bone should be placed in very weak nitric or hydrochloric acids before being immersed in the ammonia-cal liquid; wood cannot be dyed by this liquid unless it has been previously painted over with paste made from flour. "When to the ammoniacal liquid some gelatine solution be added, it may serve as a red ink which does not attack steel pens. By varying the proportions of the magenta and picric acid, the tints obtained may be varied from a bluish red to a bright orange-red. The colors do not appear until the ammonia is evaporated.
1987. To Dye Ivory Blue. Steep it in a weak solution of sulphate of indigo which has been nearly neutralized with salt of tartar; or in a solution of Prussian blue. A still better plan is to steep in the dyer's green indigo vat; or, insert the ivory for 15 to 20 minutes in diluted muriatic acid (1/2 ounce of acid for 1 pound of water, having the taste of a good vinegar), and from this acidulated water transfer the ivory into a more or less concentrated solution of indigo-carmine (soluble indigo), and keep it in that solution until the ivory has assumed a uniform blue color; then dry and polish.
 
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