

Ivory is tough, strong and very heat-resistant.

Be sure to use a spot that is least visible, in case of damage. If this manages to melt a tiny hole or make a slight dent in the key, it is definitely made of plastic. Place it over a flame so that it glows red hot, and then press it against the piano key. However, avoid this test if you are not agreeable to having your piano key damaged lightly! Look for a noodle with a very fine and sharp point. This is one very reliable test that has been used for the longest time. Plastic keys, by contrast, tend to show extreme colour variations. The colour also tends to vary slightly, such as creamy white to yellow-tan or yellow brown. If your piano keys are made of ivory, they will turn yellow as time goes by. You can also roughly tell the age of the ivory by its colour shade. If you have an old piano, and you're suspecting if its piano keys are made of ivory, here are a few ways to find out!ġ. Thankfully, the use of ivory has decreased significantly since then, and piano manufacturers began to use plastic for piano keys. However, since the 1950s, laws have been put in place to protect elephants. Compared to plastic keys, ivory piano keys can even help to reduce the chances of the pianist’s fingers slipping while playing. This was because of its value and aesthetic quality, and its ability to absorb the fingers' perspiration. Do you know elephant ivory was widely used to make piano keys many years ago? There's an an old African proverb, “The elephant dies, but his tusks remain.”Įlephants are magnificent animals, but there was a time when they were exploited for their tusks, and always falling prey to the audacious tactics of men.
