Tortoiseshell: REAL/FAKE? LEGAL/ILLEGAL? David Harper (BBC) carries out a test and explains how

[@pauldennehy104]

Very informative, thank you David

[@robertadowns217]

Very interesting, David. I've learned a lot, thanks!

[@shakielakarim6178]

Great tip David,thank you for sharing 😊 ❤ 😀

[@thomasnegovanonline]

This may be a silly question, but is there a reason you didn’t test your box on the bottom where the black mark would be unseen when the box is on a table? Fantastic video, thank you for making these! ❤️🙏🏻

[@madaug4389]

That is interesting. Thank you.

[@teepeewabbit]

Thank you David! About eight years ago, I found at an op shop in South Australia, an exquisite sea turtle (see? I learned something!) shell deco era wide jewellery cuff with 18k gold filigree clasp mechanism…it was exquisite, and I paid a dollar for it in the reduced price basket. I did flip it for $400. I did feel it was deco though could have been a little later. (The gold was unmarked but tested). In hindsight, I could have been wrong, and in trouble. On another note, in your burn test, you tested a modern plastic. Would the burn test have yielded the same result on the earlier plastics like celluloid or Bakelite etc? Cheers, Shae

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

Thanks Shae, yes in my experience the early faux shell reacts the same. I once burned a finger with a a molten string of early faux shell, so I know!

[@teepeewabbit]

@@DavidHarperAntiques ouch. Forewarned!

[@kesslerwatson4085]

If it has real gold or silver that is a good sign it’s genuine shell as it was valued highly and often combined with gold and silver trims

[@ByrRaven]

Thank you David. That was very informative!

[@trebledog]

What is an appraisal value of a pair of antique turtle shell bangles about an inch wide and curved enough with a diameter of 9-12 cm.

[@janoginski5557]

Good morning David, I’ve just seen this blog, by sheer coincidence I have the identical little box, down to the decorative interior.amazing

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

Love to hear that. After 200 years, they meet!

[@janoginski5557]

@@DavidHarperAntiques 😂, quite a coincidence, to further compound the coincidence, I have quite a few tortoiseshell pieces plus an intact "Old" turtle shell. All the best David

[@patricialynn2464]

Thank you for the insite :) do you know anything about the metal candlestick? I see it is hand turned but the metal and the ear if you know. Please ;)

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

Yes I do. It’s one of a pair of brass English sticks. Circa 1840 and with push up rods underneath that eject the left-over candle. Super things. In fact you’ve given me an idea for a video! D

[@patricialynn2464]

@@DavidHarperAntiques Fabulous, I have never seen with the rods or heard that before. I figured brass. Looking forward to the video about them!

[@MargaretArmitage]

👍thanks David.

[@saynotospanglish9192]

Nice! Thanks

[@OnerousEthic]

Three issues: 1 The hottest part of the flame is at the very top, where the combustion is complete, and soot is minimal 2 A needle will reach its maximum temperature within seconds 3 The needle will cool very quickly once removed from the flame so move quickly

[@OriginalNethead]

To tell real from costume tortoise I just use my eyeballs, but I've been at it a while.(LOL) Tortoise shell here where I live (northeastern USA) cannot be sold at all, new or old. It used to be completely legal in the Dominican Republic up until a decade or so ago and people brought it back, but now it can only be held or gifted. Using heat on celluloid (used to "fake" tortoise shell in the old days) is begging for trouble. It can catch fire. The burnt hair smell happens when you heat up horn too, which is made of the same things as hair. Hot pins will work as a test, but they're not recommended by anyone but David. OTOH using it on cheap modern plastic tat who cares? Melt away!

[@TWOM27]

David , could you do a video on how to tell the difference between hand painted and transfer painted porcelain?

[@OriginalNethead]

@@TWOM27 A good magnifying glass will often do the trick there, but it's a good topic.

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

@@TWOM27 good idea Ian , thank you

[@chellerock7735]

I have a bracelet and a locket necklace that I want to sell but I'm worried about the laws. The locket I've found on li e and it's late 1800s. I was told it's OK to ha e but the bracelet I can't find anywhere it's got a green tint rather then the orange brown color.. maybe you might know something it looks really old like same time maybe as the necklace

[@kesslerwatson4085]

The needle trick doesn’t teach people how to differentiate real shell from died horn materials. Some horn is very similar to shell in appearance but is not and has different traits that can be observed. However it also smells like burnt hair as the shell does. A loupe is a better way to identify

[@Guitarwizzard1833]

Made before 1973. Hawksbill Sea Turtle went on the endangered species list in 1973 as that is when the endangered species act was created. Not quite sure where you are getting the year 1947 as that is just false information you are throwing out. The shell piece above is either green sea turtle shell or loggerhead sea turtle shell as the color is very weak in appearance. Those two shells were mainly used for veneer as thee shells from those 2 sea turtles are very thin and not as thick as the shell from the Hawksbill Sea Turtle.

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

The law stated that pieces needed to be made before 1947 to be legal to sell and this piece was made in the early 19th century. All information in the video is correct

[@Guitarwizzard1833]

@@DavidHarperAntiques …Before 1973. Better check again. How can something be illegal before it's put on the endangered species list? The endangered species act was enacted in 1973.

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

@@Guitarwizzard1833 It was a new law that came in post 1973. It became illegal to buy or sell any item like it that was made after 1947. That’s the law in the UK.

[@Guitarwizzard1833]

@@DavidHarperAntiques …Keep believing what you want to believe. Facts are facts. The 1947 date is hogwash. Google can be your friend. Worldwide trade and sale of tortoise shell was banned in 1973….the only country that went against the law was Japan. Japan continued importing tons of shell a year from Cuba for many years until the 1990's. In 1994, Japan removed its Reservation and agreed to abide by the international trade ban. The manufacturing industry and domestic trade in tortoiseshell is allowed to continue legally in Japan today, but only using stockpiles that existed prior to the cessation of imports.

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

@@Guitarwizzard1833 We’re talking about antique objects here not new pieces. Selling a complete shell is illegal no matter how old it is, but an item (antique ) a box, inlayed furniture, jewellery etc made from tortoise shell or elements of shell and proven to be pre 1947 are legal to sell. Here’s a link to antique items I discuss for sale: www.sellingantiques.co.uk/t/antique-tortoiseshell/

[@EagleEye-oe4xe]

Poor tortoises

[@DavidHarperAntiques]

Times were different then

[@equaliser2265]

Thanks David, very informative.