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Reconditioning Antler Handles

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Author	Topic: Reconditioning Antler Handles
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 03-23-2007 06:05 PM Hello all, Does anyone have any tips for reconditioning antler or bone handles on flatware? I recently obtained some serving pieces with genuine antler handles, but the handles are kind of dry and powdery looking, probably from being washed. I was wondering if a paste wax might do the trick. Any tips? Brent IP: Logged
tmockait Posts: 963 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 03-23-2007 06:23 PM I don't have an answer but an idea as to where to inquire. A taxidermist, oddly enough, might be the best source of info on this question. Good luck, Tom IP: Logged
argentum1 Posts: 602 Registered: Apr 2004	posted 03-23-2007 06:23 PM You might try contacting someone in the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute. This would possibly be an expensive endeavor relative to the value of the item. There are sources for antler such as taxidermist. I did this years ago before there were federal regulations on endangered species. There are also sources for artificial/simulated bone, horn and ivory. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 03-23-2007 06:37 PM I've had very good results with rubbing in mineral oil. The deterioration of the antler/bone is usually due to its being dried out, which can happen just through time but is often attributable to being run through a dishwasher -- the steam heat there really sucks the oils out. BTW, this also works for rejuvenating turquoise and some other soft stones -- the classic method was to rub them against one's nose, letting the skin oils work in to the stone, but if that creeps you out mineral oil works there as well. Argentum, the endangered species regulations apply to relatively little antler or bone, as bone is seldom harvested from endangered species -- it's readily available elsewhere -- and antler is renewable. They do apply to some horn, most notably rhinoceros, and to modern ivory. Fossil ivory is a legal substitute for modern ivory, although ironically it's even more 'endangered' long-term as there aren't any mammoths or mastodons reproducing today! At least with modern elephants there's some opportunity for renewal.... BTW, experts can tell the difference between fossil and modern species, by the angle of intersection of the grain lines in the ivory -- a very cool if little known technique. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 03-23-2007 07:51 PM Mineral oil is good. So is cold cream. Pretty much anything that nurtures and moisturizes skin will do the same for bone and antler. IP: Logged

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