Gem and Ornamental

Figure 7.6 Pressed horn button. Late nineteenth -my (magded).Today powdered horn is mixed with a fler to seal cracks or cwerb l h in horn item^ such as cane handlaHorn can be bleached to a pale opaque colour with an almost iridescentsheen. This was seen in art nwveolu jewellery (Fig. 7.13).Horn can be dyed, as a rule with organic dyes. The dyed colour isonly on the surface. In thin layers dyed horn could be used ascoloured veneer on furllitwe.Horn was dyed black as a cheap imitation of jet, when this materialwas popular for jewelleg.Horn can be bleached and painted, as, for example, when imitatingtortoiseshell. T%is was sold as 'mochhell' in the nineteenthcentury and was used mostly for hair ornamenm, fans and combs.Horn does not last forever, but deteriorates with age. For this reasonthere are few veq old items to be found in museums. Damp, heatedstorage is espdy damaging to horn.The patina of horn is retained by haudling it, hence it is a goodmated for use in stick be.Horn is not fitted by dt or vinegar, so it is ideal for use as dtspoons and salad swvas.