Ivory? Pendant

I’d love to know what the group thinks about this pendant. Is it genuinely old, or merely something modern that’s trying hard to look old?

It appears to be walrus tusk ivory in a silver mount, with a coral cabochon on the bail. There are no maker’s or other marks on it anywhere. The ivory (if that’s what it is) fluoresces a purplish-blue under U.V. light.

I purchased it in an auction that included many pieces of antique jewelry in the hope that it’s a native American piece, but I can’t decide if it's real or not..

 

that's an odd critter....
I don't see walrus
or NA
it even looks like a marine shell from some angles....

 

Hadn’t thought of shell, but you could be right!

 

I believe it’s just a discolored spot. Doesn’t look like a purposely-made mark to me.

 

Antler burr crown,I've seen the design someplace but don't remember where.

 

yes, those porous holes on the rear suggest bone....

 

Would the lower part of a tusk have a porous structure similar to what looks like bone here?

(Certainly looks old to me.)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/baggis/4511834571

 

no...it's not porous.
it's the inner dentine

 

Reflects back the purplish-blue UV light.

 

I've also seen similar porosity in sections of antler; to get that effect you'd cut a slab of antler lengthwise rather than crosswise; such a section would show the porosity only on the back.
And one could certainly cut a bone section that would show porosity only on the back.
But ivory of any species would never show that porosity on either side.
(A cross-section of walrus tusk has a central section with an appearance that has been described as "like oatmeal," and is very distinct from the outer areas; but it is not porous).

 

I sent photos of this pendant to Steve Cox, author of the book “Trade Silver Marks of the Americas” and expert on this sort of thing, and just received a message back from him. Steve says it’s definitely Native American, from the northwest coast, probably Alaska. There’s no way to date it for sure, but it will be 1880’s on. The symbol is likely a bird totem. I’m very excited it’s real!

 

Wasn't this posted within the last week or so??

 

??? Yes, it was.

 

I was just questioning myself why it looked familiar.....you might not have gotten any responses then.......happens!!

 

Oh, I see! No, I was just letting the group know about what Mr. Cox had to say.

 

David, could you put a little silver polish on a Q-tip and try a little polishing inside where I've circled in red on the inside of the bail?? I do see the letter 'k' and what looks to me like a small cat head with a couple of whiskers (yes I do!), but it's also hard to tell.....the arrow is pointing right between the two! Just thinking there "could" be a mark!!

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that's news to me.......

i know about these..



but never seen that pendant...

@Mark London ............. ?

 

I’ve looked at this spot carefully with a loupe, but there are no marks. Just a lot of old crud!

 

Sorry then.....it really looked like some markings!!!