is it possible to dye Ivory?

E

EricRedAxe

Joined
Jun 10, 2019
Messages
12
I have spent 3 hours searching on google, but no one seems to have an answer. I don't have any ivory right now, but in the future I hope to salvage some off of a piano to make inlays, and I'd like to dye them an inky black. Is this actually doable, or would I be wasting my time?
 
Modern piano keys are not ivory but rather high grade plastic. While piano keys from the 1940's and earlier were made of ivory it's a very thin layer. So you'd have to find a quite old piano and then the pieces are very thin.

As far as dying them black I'll leave that for someone else to answer. Though to me one of the finest characteristics of ivory is it's natural color. As it ages it acquires a gorgeous patina. I think if you dyed it black you would lose that.
 
Yes, you can dye ivory. Dyeing it black defeats the whole purpose of using ivory. That's like silver plating gold jewelry.
Why not use black cow or buffalo horn, or ebony?
 
It would be way easier to just buy some black horn or dyed bone:confused:

~Chip
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Why not use black cow or buffalo horn, or ebony?
Click to expand...

WValtakis said:
It would be way easier to just buy some black horn or dyed bone:confused:
Click to expand...

None of those would give me the texture I want. You know how old ivory has little surface cracks? I was thinking that if ivory could be dyed, then those cracks might take the dye more readily. Making them even darker than the rest of the piece.

seanj said:
Modern piano keys are not ivory but rather high grade plastic. While piano keys from the 1940's and earlier were made of ivory it's a very thin layer. So you'd have to find a quite old piano and then the pieces are very thin.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information. I was unaware of how thin the strips actually were.
 
If you want the cracks to take dye more readily, look into camel bone. Please don't waste ivory.
 
Sounds like putting bumper stickers in a lambo.

Ivory is beautiful and valued because of what it is, the unique look it has and the value people throughout history have put on the material.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top