Specifity of Identification of the Materials, Used for Oriental Edged Weapons Handles Manufacturing, as well as Pieces of Applied Arts, Made of Rhinoceros Horn

Abstract

The article actualizes the problem of correct identification and distinguishing of osteological materials, used for manufacturing of different pieces of applied arts, including the handles of edged weapons. The author states these materials to be often described as just “horn”, though horns of different mammals were used. The most complex the problem is with the describing of the objects made of the horn of the rhinoceros. It causes not only mistakes in museum descriptions, but also more serious aftereffects, concerning the definition of insurance value of the objects transported and exhibited. The opposite problem appears when pieces made of other mammals’ horns are attributed as the ones manufactured of the horn of the rhinoceros, because of the similarity of horns with the transparent and stratose texture, peculiar to the rhinoceros one. The author provides the main discriminant marks for identification of pieces made of the horn of the rhinoceros and points to the features of this material.

Keywords

• handles
• material
• horn
• the horn of the rhinoceros