dyeing bone question

[peppin72]

Hi,

A couple of years ago, when I was in New Zealand, I did a bonecarving course.
After finishing the object I dyeed (or is it dyed :confused: )it. It gave it a nice antique look

Back home I fixed some cowbone and started carving .
By now I've finished a couple of pendants.

I want to dye them but I just can't seem to remember how or with what :confused:

I want to say : with tealeaves; but I'm not sure.

Does any of you know how to dye bone?


Thanks ,
Pepijn

[ESpy]

Fabric dyes like Dylon work;
potassium permanganate can be used to darken bone & antler;
stains used in microscopy also work (well, they stain everything else!).

[peppin72]

Thanks ESpy,



Pepijn

[RovingArcher]

Using a wet tea bag works good to add age to bone and antler.

[ESpy]

Somewhat nicer than working with KMnO4, too... Is there a reaction involved, or does the tea just sit there (and possibly dissolve out later)?

[peppin72]

Thanks guys,

Did some googling and found out that it can also be done with cold (instant)coffee.

So I took 2 tablespoons of coffee and just enough water to solve the coffee,in a cup, and threw in some leftover pieces of cowbone,antler and ivory (don't worry;nothing illegal,just an old,sawn up billiardball).
Left it there for about 6 hours and .....tadaaa ... it has a nice antique look now.
Kinda brownish.
The smooth parts of the surface were a little less tanned then the rougher parts.

Also a cup of water with 2 teabags coloured some pieces.
Just a little less dark.(yellow)

Well,that was a nice experiment :)

Again,thanks for sharing.

Pepijn

[Scally]

hi i am out in new zealand now and fallen in love with the dyed coffee look i have some antler and cant wait for a quite eve to have a carve. good luck.

[peppin72]

Have some nice carving time down there!!

Enjoy the beautiful country and perhaps you could attend a bone/jade carving workshop.

Pepijn