Discussion On Rhino Horn By A Member (9239)
Rhino horn is translucent at the base (wider area) with not very clear fiber structure pattern (still exist), from 5-6 inch up from the base to the tip it is almost complete opaque with prominent fiber pattern (photo 6-1, 6-2, the light torch in photo is very bright), the size (diameter) of each hair type fiber is about the size of sewing machine needle (not the part you connect to the needle holder, the part before it become a sharp point).
The fiber in general is round in shape but not a perfect round, sometime they have a center cavity (pit, kind of a nutrient cavity when it was growing), the fiber is general harder than the bonding material (hair to hair), this can be observed by a cross section (90 degree to the fiber length direction) area that is handled by hand often or by oxidation, you will see each fiber forms a small dome, some with a pin like center indentation (that why its called "fish egg" pattern). Photo 1-1 to 1-8, each will show the fish egg, use enlargement if you prefer.
Fish egg sometimes looks like lizard skin pattern (photo 1-2).
Photo 2-1,2-2 show how the long fibers look like, note the fiber has color variation therefore seems like they are broken even though they are not, very important, a lot of horns have fiber pattern but not like this.
If you cut the fiber 90 degree (cross section) you'll see a round shaped cross section, if you cut in 45 degree you'll see a oval shaped cross section, if you cut in 75 degree you'll see a even longer oval shape (photo 0-1). Photo 1-1, if the fiber growth direction corresponds to the height of the cup (see circle 2), circle 3 is the fish egg pattern you¡¯ll see, please note is change from long oval to oval to roundish from bottom up. Understand the fish egg pattern of the cross section at different angles are crucial in identifying because the subject may not have a 90 degree cross section area.
Photo 4-1 to 4-3, 5-1 to 5-6 are complete cross section of rhino horn, please note rhino horn has no center pattern, they are dark spot blotches, and in photo 4-3 the bright pin spot are horn fiber. The smaller of the dark blotches means it¡¯s closer to the base of the horn (wider part). Study them carefully, use enlargement.
Logics:
Rhino horn "fish egg" pattern is the most important, if you don't see them 95% it's not rhino, some time you can not see if people just polish it or it may be covered by varnish. If you see the rhino horn "fish egg", it is rhino horn. No other horn of any kind has this "fish egg" pattern.
Look alike: Photo 3-1 to 3-7
Bull horn from Tibet, quite translucent, has obvious fiber pattern (fiber is thinner) and almost no end cross section pattern, it has it's own unique ring pattern, see photo 3-3,3-4.
Circular separation line (photo 3-4), rhino horn NEVER have this kind of separation ring
3-5 to 3-7 show small beads made of horse hoof, almost have the fish egg pattern but with a prominent white spot in the center of each fiber, Sometimes also made into small carvings because of it¡¯s size limitation.
Regards, Jack Lee
Category: Handcarved - Folkart
Sub Category: Horn
Listed: 2007-07-11 01:21:14
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