| By the end of the last Ice age, the complete species | | | | ivory that can replace elephant ivory due to near |
| of Woolly mammoths got annihilated while the | | | | similar structure and texture. |
| fossilized remains have remained in the cold regions of | | | | Going into the intricacies of the this unique trade, there |
| Europe, Asia and North America. The area of | | | | are different varieties of grades and sizes of ivory |
| movement of these shaggy beasts was across the | | | | available ranging from huge tusks to thin chips, rough |
| land bridge that still exists between Alaska and Siberia. | | | | chunks to polished pieces. Different artists and carvers |
| Parts of Yukon and Alaska were ice free during that | | | | require a different size and quality. Although tusks are |
| time and the ivory tusks are still obtained from these | | | | known to be heavy and can reach lengths of 16 feet, |
| areas. | | | | tusks over 60 kilos are rare, there are instances of |
| Tusks which are in good condition are sold in their | | | | some which have weighted 80 kilos also. Generally, the |
| original form while the chunks, broken pieces are | | | | male tusks are bigger, heavier and longer than the |
| finished, polished or sold raw to collectors as | | | | female tusks, while baby mammoth tusks are rare |
| decorations or to work upon by artists and carvers. | | | | finds. |
| Some of the tusk pieces are perfect for carving out | | | | Finding a matched pair are unique and often the best |
| knife and gun handles, scrimshaws, chess pieces, pool | | | | ones are bought by museums worldwide. Many of the |
| cues. The shavings are used as inlay in different | | | | mammoth tusks harvested go into private collections in |
| material while the expertise of the skilled craftsmen is | | | | United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Taiwan and |
| being utilized to the full limit even after the closure of | | | | European countries. |
| the elephant ivory trade. | | | | Mammoth ivory is eco friendly, natural material that is in |
| Traders dealing with procurement and selling of | | | | limited supply so buying a piece of ivory is like owning |
| mammoth ivory adhere to strict international standards | | | | a piece of our past, when our ancestors roamed the |
| and guidelines relating to the trade. The international | | | | regions with these Woolly creatures. You can get |
| trade in ivory had suffered a setback after the ban on | | | | beautiful scrimshaws, elegant carvings and delicate |
| elephant ivory but mammoth ivory is the only natural | | | | netsuke crafted out of pure mammoth ivory! |