Featured help with large horn beaded necklace

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by charlie cheswick, Sep 21, 2018.

  1. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    hey again

    found this the other day, quite an impressive size, wondered origin, and what type of horn it would be(passed pin test)

    any thoughts appreciated

    Aviary Photo_131820294656113241.jpg Aviary Photo_131820295260314452.jpg bead11.jpg bead8.jpg
     
  2. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    Those are very nice horn beads.

    I've had different types of horn beads, but have never been sure of their origins other than to assume they were imported. Large beads made from natural materials were popular in the 1970s, but that doesn't mean they couldn't be more recent.
     
  3. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Indian cow horn probably. Water buffalo maybe - nothing endangered.
     
  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    i've never seen striped horn like that..........
     
  5. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    Looks like rhino horn with applied stripes ,not sure how the stripes were "dyed".
     
  6. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    I was wondering about the stripes, too. I've had dark horn beads that still had a rough lighter-colored exterior edge section, which I assumed was the original texture and color.

    I'm thinking maybe Charlie's beads were polished in a way that still shows that exterior section, but with the surface smoothed and tapered down.
     
  7. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    You can't really see the perimeter edges here, but these are the beads I was thinking of (from an old photo)...

    BDho003GAL2.jpg
     
  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    upload_2018-9-21_19-18-25.jpeg

    I've never seen striping like that......but I've never seen this pretty fellow either....sooo...WTHDIK ??
     
  9. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    thanks for the great info pat
     
  10. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Then how come they seem to spiral.....?
     
    Christmasjoy and i need help like this.
  11. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    Good question. I dunno... admittedly, some of the beads in the necklace fit my hypothesis better than others. I don't know how much the natural stuff inside of horn varies.
     
  12. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    They are nice beads. I believe they are water buffalo horn. According to a description of horn provided for knife scales, some can have "strong figuring":
    "Intended for use in gunstock work. This material is selectively acquired by us from large, fat, high density Water Buffalo horn stock of Indian origin, in order that the grain structure is as "tight" as possible. Material will polish with a certain "blue grey" /"oily" translucence. Occasional pieces have stronger figuring and will be available at a premium and by arrangement."
    http://www.highlandhorn.com/bone-gu...s-materials/buffalo-horn-scales-150mm-95.html

    These are examples of water buffalo horn beads, which show they can be quite variable in color:
    [​IMG]
    https://www.etsy.com/listing/546550...ds&ref=sr_gallery-1-12&organic_search_click=1

    [​IMG]
    https://www.etsy.com/listing/572192...ads&ref=sr_gallery-1-8&organic_search_click=1

    I suppose there is a chance they were artistically dyed/bleached, to create the distinctive spiral effect.

    I think it is highly unlikely that they are rhino horn. Too scarce/illegal (and valuable) to be used simply for beads.
     
  13. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    thanks for the info, and your time mate
     
    kyratango, Christmasjoy and Pat P like this.
  14. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    See this has already been well explored, but, based on other things I have seen made from it, was also going to say water buffalo.
     
    kyratango and charlie cheswick like this.
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