Ivory

Ivory has been prized for thousands of years for its rich, creamy color, fine texture, and ease of carving. Until quite recently, it was a popular material for both jewelry and ornaments. However, international restrictions on trading now help to protect the animals from which ivory can be taken.

The teeth or tusks of mammals all have ivory as a constituent. Although usually associated with elephants, ivory from the Hippopotamus, Wild Boar, and Warthog is also used. Marine mammals such as the Sperm Whale, Sea Lion, Walrus, and Narwhal provide ivory as well. Fossil ivory – from prehistoric animals such as mastodons, mammoths, or dinosaurs – can also be carved.

The use of ivory simulants – horn, bone, jasper, plastic, resin, and vegetable ivory – has been strongly encouraged in order to protect ivory-bearing animals. Ivory carving has a long history: one piece of carved mammoth ivory found in France is estimated to be over 30,000 years old. In China and Japan, it remains highly valued, even today.

Ivory has thin canals containing nerve fibers. It is common to find crisscrossing, curving patterns unique to the organic material. In other specimens, it is usual to find distinctive curved growth lines. Some Hippopotamus tusks have outer surfaces yellowed with time and radial lines. The surface of Sperm Whale ivory yellows with age. Its tough outer rim surrounds a concentric inner structure.

Ivory has been stained pink to imitate coral. Similarly, it is stained green to imitate jade. That is due to ivory being porous and its ability to take a dye with ease. Imitation ivory is now popular as more and more ivory-bearing animals face extinction.

During Roman times, the African Elephant ivory was carved into the heads of special people.

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Ivory Simulant

The bone may be used as an ivory simulant. These may be carved into buttons or beads, with a plain back and carved front.

Occurrence

The best ivory is from the African Elephant. It has a warm tint and little grain or mottling. Ivory from the Indian Elephant is a denser white, softer, and easier to work, but yellows more easily. Other sources of ivory include Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), and Europe.