Bone & Horn Surfaces – Replaced with White Serpentine

Bone and horn have been used as decorative materials since earliest times, valued for their subtle translucency, fine grain, and ability to hold crisp pattern. At De Ferranti, we honour the heritage of these materials while applying a modern ethical lens. For this reason, we are transitioning away from camel bone and specifying white serpentine as our preferred pale alternative for new commissions.

Traditionally sourced as by-products of domesticated animals such as camel and buffalo, bone and horn lend themselves to a wide range of techniques including carving, inlay, and precision-cut pattern work. De Ferranti uses these materials to create distinctive surfaces for walls and floors, as well as inlaid furniture and decorative elements made to special commission.

Classic layouts include Ottoman repeat, geometric compositions, chequerboard, and brick bond. The materials can also be bonded to lightweight panels, offering creative solutions for weight-sensitive locations such as luxury yachts and private jets.

Ethical and material transition note: All De Ferranti suppliers are fully vetted, and all bone and horn is sourced only as a by-product within established agricultural and food supply chains, with documented provenance and processing. We do not use wild-sourced material, endangered species, or anything sold as ivory or designed to imitate it. Going forward, where a pale “bone-like” aesthetic is desired, De Ferranti is replacing camel bone with white serpentine, a natural stone alternative that delivers the same refined tonality with a reduced reliance on animal-derived content.