Mammoth Ivory - Undying Beauty

y Mammoths were present during the last Ice age butand inlay work in other mediums. Some of the inlay
perished due to the changing environments, when thework can be seen in wood, brass and other materials
climate became warmer. The exceptionally long tusksto make beautiful, stunning objects d'art. Some artists
that reached 16 feet and there have been manyuse it to create beautiful beads, pendants and
instances of artifacts and figurines sculpted out ofnecklaces while sculptors use this medium to create
mammoth ivory. Mammoth ivory is still available indecorative items and beautiful netsuke.
Siberia and arctic regions and there are expertThe ban on elephant ivory gave impetus to higher
sculptures, who carve intricate details in tusks- netsuke,demand of mammoth ivory. As the animal Woolly
figurines, whole tusks and inlay work in other mediums.Mammoth is extinct today but lived 10,000 to 40,000
The ban on elephant ivory gave impetus to higheryears ago, it is legal all over the world. You might find it
demand of mammoth ivory. Differentiating betweena little expensive but it's definitely not unaffordable. The
elephant ivory and mammoth ivory is difficult but notprice of the objects depends upon its limited availability,
impossible. Polishing and finishing on the ivory adds todifficulty in procurement and the carving done on the
the beautiful glow on the object.figurine. As it is eco friendly, fossil remains the demand
Woolly Mammoths were present during the last Icefor uniqueness and beauty has saved the ivory
age but perished due to the changing environments,carvers from losing out on livelihood and expertise.
when the climate became warmer. With huge tusksDifferentiating between elephant ivory and mammoth
and woolly hair on the body to protect them from theivory is difficult but not impossible. As mammoth ivory
ice cold atmosphere, they were probably unable tohas deposits of iron phosphate, it appears to glow as
adapt themselves to the warm climate, post Ice Age.purplish under UV (ultra violet) light while under a
The exceptionally long tusks that reached 16 feet andpowerful microscope, a specialist can make out the
there have been many instances of artifacts anddifference in the angles of the cross section of both
figurines sculpted out of mammoth ivory. It has beenthe ivories.
carved since the early times and beautiful pieces ofIt has become a sought after commodity in the world
mammoth sculpture can be seen in different museumsof valuable sculptures and carvings. The flexibility of
all over the world. The fossilized remains of the woollythe material has been utilized in form of jewelry,
mammoth are used and tusks are the most prizedsculptures, tusk carvings, inlay in wood and making
possessions, which are sold at extremely high pricesexotic netsuke. It is able to retain the luster while the
due to the limited supply available in the world.sculptor brings out the rich, creamy white color from
Mammoth ivory is still available in Siberia and arcticthe raw brown tusk. Polishing and finishing on the ivory
regions and there are expert sculptures, who carveadds to the beautiful glow on the object.
intricate details in tusks- netsuke, figurines, whole tusks