OX BONE tufflinks

Ox bone has a raw, subtle look and a rich history. 

In ancient Chinese culture, diviners used ox bone to submit questions to deities regarding future weather, crop planting, the fortunes of the royal family, military endeavors, and other similar topics. 

Our look emulates the ox bone pre-divination. Before use, the bones were cleaned of meat and then prepared by sawing, scraping, smoothing and even polishing to create convenient, flat surfaces. Pits or hollows were then drilled or chiseled partway through the bone in an orderly series. Diviners carved the questions onto the bone and then applied intense heat with a metal rod until the bone cracked. The diviner would then interpret the pattern of the cracks and write the prognostication upon the piece.

While we don't recommend you attempt to practice divination using our tufflinks, the beautiful texture can still interpreted in a variety of ways.