Ivory

For the wrestler known by the ring name Ivory, see Ivory (wrestler).

carved ivory

Ivory is a hard yellowsh-white material made from the tusks and teeth of animals such as elephants, hippopotamuses and walruses. Ivory is now very rare and expensive since there are restrictions on hunting elephants for ivory. There are also laws against the trade of ivory. Some countries (including Zimbabwe and South Africa) argue that these laws should be removed or changed, to allow them to sell some ivory.

Ivory has been used to make piano keys, billiard balls, handles and small ornaments. After ivory was banned, these items were usually made from plastic. Many of the earliest plastics were meant to be substitutes for ivory. Ivory has been used in artworks, such as carvings, since ancient times.

Ivory color represents quiet and pleasantness.

Ivory Media

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  11th-century Italian carved elephant tusk, Louvre.

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  Cylindrical ivory casket, Siculo-Arabic, Hunt Museum.

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  A depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus crafted in elephant ivory

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  An ivory tabernacle featuring the Madonna of Caress, France

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  An ivory powder measure from the collection of Conner Prairie

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  An elaborately carved ivory tusk in Sa'dabad Palace, Iran

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  Men with elephant tusks, Dar es Salaam, c. 1900

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  The Bull Leaper, an ivory figurine from the palace of Knossos, Crete, 1500 BC

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  Ancient Greek ivory pyxis with griffins attacking stags. Late 15th century BC

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  A piece of carved ivory from the Pushkin Museum representing Christ blessing Emperor Constantine VII. Mid 10th century AD