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Ivory
The name comes from the Latin ebur, of identical
meaninc It has always been used as an ornamental material,
but r various times over the centuries was much more highl,
prized than it is today. The zenith of its popularity wa probably
around the thirteenth century-strangely, both i Europe and
in China, despite their completely differer cultures.
Appearance The cream to yellowish white color
is char acteristic (and is in fact known as ivory color);
it turnsdrab yellow-brown with age. The longitudinal grain
is r ways visible in bright light, due to the difference in
transl, cence between one part of the tusk and another, and
t1 - displays the distinctive pattern of intersecting curves
cross section. It easily takes a good polish, although mo•
crudely worked pieces (e.g., some low quality African craw
objects) may display scratch marks from the planes use to
fashion them. In thicknesses of a millimeter or a litt more
(as in the slats of some cooling fans as used t ladies) it
is fairly elastic.
It is tenacious without any ter dency to splinter.
The ornaments and luxury items, pa~ and present, made of ivory
are too numerous to mentioThey include round-beaded necklaces
and bangles, eas produced from the hollow basal portion of
the tusk; carve pieces in bas-relief, for use both as pendant
jewelry ar the outer panels, for instance, of boxes and containers
and ceremonial weapon handles. Sculptures of human fic ures
are also common. In Africa especially, entire tusks ar carved
without interfering with their basic shape and sizf the completed
piece designed to stand upright.
Complet~ tusks are also fashioned in China,
Japan, and India, ht, - these are normally intended to be
viewed horizontally an depict landscapes or everyday scenes,
with an abundancof vegetation, houses, and pagodas, shown
in minute de tail. Small sculptures or other objects are also
put togethe from numerous, juxtaposed pieces of ivory fixed
to a thiwooden support, not visible in the finished article.
This prcduces works of art exceeding the size of a single
tusk an-: having the appearance of single-color mosaics.
Oriental art forms also include complex-shaped contair ers,
with minutely worked, carved walls and intricate . pierced
details. In the West, ivory has mainly been used fsculptures,
boxes, and containers with bas-relief decortions, elaborate
weapon handles, fans, and even inlays furniture.
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