Featured Carved Egg Cup, Bone or Ivory, Date?

This came with a collection of mainly blue and white vintage ceramic egg cups, it definitely didn't fit in! When I posted it on an egg collectors' forum I was told by another member that it was bone, and indeed I hope it is, I would much rather that than ivory. If it was ivory I couldn't sell it, but I also wouldn't want to keep it, I agree with the ban on ivory objects, because some trade is still carrying on disguised as antiques. Is it also your opinion that it is bone? And does anyone have an idea of the date? Is it Chinese? The other forum member had a very similar one herself, but that is the only other one I have seen pictured. I have done repeated searches for bone or ivory carved egg cups and come up with nothing at all like it, which surprised me.

 

Just realised I should have added Resin to the list of possible bodies. Posted this without adding all the photos, so here are a couple more. I've just realised that the bowl is very smooth, perhaps too smooth for bone or ivory? I've done a search for resin egg cups but still come up with nothing!

 

Is it possible it is celluloid?
Wait for the experts, I am just guessing.

 

Photos are too dark and not focused,but looks like there may be schreger lines.

 

Ivory

 

the cracks the base and that cream color point to ivory..

 

I don't think resin or celluloid are prone to cracking like that.

 

Another positive id for ivory. Maybe India, 19th century.
It is a beauty, and antique, but selling would indeed be a problem.

 

Looks to me like Schreger lines on the pedestal...




~Cheryl

 

Sorry, I've put the egg cup away somewhere, but when I find it I will take better ones of the stem and base.

 

Thanks for this! The other egg cup collector was rather disappointed that hers had been identified as bone, I think I will share this link with her, and maybe she might get it looked at again by another expert. I was really hoping mine was bone, so worth its decorative value, if it is ivory it was probably once quite expensive but now morally dubious and unsaleable, even if genuinely antique. Does anyone have any ideas what I could do with it? Perhaps donate it to a museum somewhere?

 

Ivory, no doubt for me

 

it's too sweet to give away............unless you want to ship it here...
otherwise...
put it on your desk to hold paper clips...
or
make a soft boiled egg...........and use it for that !!!!!

 

Actually use it as an egg cup, I think I might try that! But then, the elephants . . .

 

not to worry..........that elephant is in heaven........