Gem and Ornamental

Figure 5.4 Shoehorn and cigar cutter with handles of red deer antler, andcork mew of polished reindeer antler.~ T AND S IDENTIFICATIONAntler is easily recognisable by its structure. Even when the ridgedouter surface has been removed, the spongy looking core is unmistakable(Fig. 5.1). Only if the centre is absent can there be ficulties.Visual examinationAntler i usually a darker shade than the creamy colour of bone.Antler tends to be beige or pale grey, depending on its origin^.A ridged outer surface or a spongy looking centre i indicative ofantler and i wily seen with the nakd eye vi 5.2 and 5.1).Under mamcation the polished surface of antler shows a moremottled appearance with lots of tiny, dark spots, d it lacks thestraight, dark lines of the Haversian canals in bone. In moss-sectionantler la& the d, black dots of these canals.