Our Treasures: Getting a handle on history

Years ago, before plastics were in regular use, bone and ivory were used to make handles for cutlery, manicure sets, walking sticks and as inlay on furniture. Beautifully carved ornaments in both ivory and bone were highly sought after. In New Zealand, Maori made extensive use of whale bone for practical objects such as fish hooks and as adornments. Beef bone became popular as a substitute over the past 150 years.

Ivory had been used as piano keys and cutlery handles for centuries. When I was shown this manicure set, donated by Florence Keen, the well known Whangarei historian, I assumed the handles were made of ivory. Natalie Brookland, our registrar, discovered some interesting information that influenced my thinking. In this February's Homes and Antiques, a magazine article by David Battie from the Antiques Roadshow explains clearly the differences.

"Bone, unlike ivory, is a live material and is a powerhouse of the body. Within a thin shell is a hollow containing a sponge-like material. Blood flows through the bones and appears on the outside as black/brown dots or short lines."

A close look at the manicure set shows the tiny lines. It was not ivory.

Before the dishwasher, many of us grew up with bone handled cutlery sets - which my mother called ivory. As time passed celluloid was used which appeared to be the component of our set at home. One day I inadvertently dropped a "bone/ivory" handled knife on the hot ring of the stove and the handle very quickly melted. I would not recommend this activity to decide what a handle is made of. David Battie suggests a less destructive method.

"The best test for any plastic is to place the piece on your cheek: plastic will be warm, while bone and ivory will be cold."

As the Florence Keen manicure set is made of bone we cannot yet tell whether it is whale or beef bone. It is easy to assume that as it is a European set it would be beef bone. We have on display an obviously European influenced carving knife and fork lent by Brian Wiig which we know is made of whale bone.

We know the manicure set handles are not ivory but are they whale or beef bone?

Kiwi North (Whangarei Museum, Kiwi House and Heritage Park) is open daily from 10am to 4pm.