Featured Is this pendant made of bone?

I wasn't sure where to post this question but since it has possibly a NA theme, I am hoping the right experts can help. It depicts a bear, wolf and a NA man or woman so possibly a spirit animal "totem". Google lens comes up with similar all described as carved bone (some say from Nepal and couple say Viking themed). I am not seeing bone as the material on this or it being hand carved. It looks and feels like molded plastic to me. It is set in silver and the back is marked faintly 925. It is 3" long and about 1" wide. I would appreciate any opinions or advice. Thank you for looking.

 

Looks like molded plastic to me too. And I'm surprised to see how many similars can be found on the internet.

Debora

 

I was surprised as well but confused too. Thanks for confirming its not bone, Debora.

 

Artisans in Bali, Indonesia, have been making highly polished bone carvings in a variety of styles for many years. I suspect that is what this is.

See ebay item #126122672480 - "925 Silver Indian Chief Grizzly Bear Bali Artisan Bone Sterling Pendant, 3 3/8"

https://www.etsy.com/listing/854012...04ea36d8ed81c0c2828098b8cda534a88ba:854012823

https://www.etsy.com/listing/854012...04ea36d8ed81c0c2828098b8cda534a88ba:854012823

https://www.etsy.com/shop/fifirosed...r-name&listing_id=854012823&from_page=listing

 

could be bone or thinking maybe................

 

Thank you 2manybooks. It certainly does look like those carvings.

 

the smoothness makes me think that anyway

 

Thank you charlie for weighing in. I am pretty confident that it is not the unnamed material.

 

have you a uv torch Lizzie ?, it will let us know what it isn't

 

i do have a UV torch and the piece does not react to it. I appreciate the suggestion.

 

no worries, i find it hard to believe someone would put plastic in that much silver and i don't really see bone either, so i've gotta be wrong somewhere

 

Yes charlie , I agree, it seems odd to put plastic in sterling. But after looking at what 2manybooks referenced, I am pretty convinced it is likely a polished bone carving from Bali.

 

sorry to keep piping on Lizzie , but the subjects don't look Balinese, more canada way

 

if you get the chance (and don't have to) but a shot under uv (upclose) would help alot (as bone should react too)

 

Will do

 

That's what the Balinese entrepreneurs are counting on - NA sells. Their wood carvers have also been reproducing NW Coast styles (though not very accurately, so far).

 

Arr i see, very ignorant about that , i still think possible though (just a hunch) and will hang in shame if not

 

of the 2 (bone)ebay examples, 1 is more convincing than the other, but still not in the same league as yours

 

for comparison

 

This one is bone. The molded ones are white white, and this one isn't. At least it's not ivory; real Native carvings were often done in fossil material or not-so-fossil material. They're legally allowed to own, work and sell said products. It's resale that's a problem.