The comparison of the tissue structure of real and fake rhino horn with photos has a great guiding effect on us in distinguishing the authenticity of rhino horn.
a. Sumatran rhinoceros horn b. Indian rhino horn c. African white rhino horn d. African black rhino horn
e. buffalo horn f. yak horn g." Imitation rhino horn" beaded h. donkey hoof box
Pictures a, b, c, d show the microstructure diagram of four rhino horns, and their common characteristics are as follows: rhino horn fibers are embedded in the fiber interstitium without fixed shape, the cross-sectional edge and pith center are clearly visible, and the fiber cross-section is irregular, triangular or 4, 5 sided and other irregular shapes.
That is to say, one of their common points is that they all have concentric circles and medullary cavities, which is the most typical feature of rhino horns.
The microstructure of domestic hooves and horns is essentially different from the structural characteristics of rhinoceros horns. The cross-section of buffalo horn and yak horn shows a straight or wavy layered structure, and there are no longitudinally arranged fibers.
The picture shows a donkey's hooves bracelet
The cross-sectional features of the "rhino horn" beads and donkey's hooves are similar, and both are scattered with holes of slightly different size and shape, and there is no cortical part similar to rhino horn fibers around the holes (Figures e, f, g, h).
The picture shows the genuine old rhino horn bracelet
The structural characteristics of "rhino horn" beads are the same as those of domestic hooves, which can confirm that the so-called commercially available "rhino horn" beads are actually imitations of domestic hooves.
There are many kinds of rhinos, and the internal form, structure, etc. of their horns are naturally different.
But just as the human race is different, the internal shape and structure of its nails are roughly the same, no matter what kind of rhino, the internal shape and structure of its horns, etc. (observed with a 100-fold handheld microscope) are the same, but the thickness of the "bamboo silk pattern" and "caviar pattern" is slightly different - the bamboo silk pattern of the Asian rhino horn is thicker, and the bamboo silk pattern of the African rhino horn is thinner.
Even the smell is the same, only the difference is weak - the smell of ox yellow and fragrance of the Asian rhino horn cup of the Ming and Qing dynasties can still be smelled, and the smell of the African rhino horn cup of the Ming and Qing dynasties can hardly be smelled.
The "bamboo silk pattern" (hair pattern) of the rhino horn is longitudinally straight and not sticky no matter how you look at it.
In fact, just looking at the longitudinal surface of the rhino horn cup under natural light, the "bamboo silk pattern" (hair silk pattern) is vertically straight and not sticky. And if you shine a flashlight on the back of the rhino horn cup wall, the situation inside is a little different.
The author Lao Mo has collected some old rhino horn works for everyone to enjoy.
This article is original by Mocao Craft, more secrets about the old horn carving, welcome to the comment area to participate in the discussion!