Difference between revisions of "Elephant tusk"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | The source of true [ | + | The source of true [[ivory]]. Long, curved elephant tusks are rootless incisors that are not covered with enamel. The size and structure of a tusks depends on the animal, its age and its living conditions. Tusks as long as 6-8 feet have been obtained from African elephants. The Indian elephants produce tusks about 4-5 feet long. The tusks are primarily composed of [[dentin]], a hard calcareous material; a new layer of dentin is added each season. This produces a layered ring structure that can be seen in fresh ivory. Deteriorated ivory tends to flake and peel along these lines. |
[[File:57.581-SC39356.jpg|thumb|]] | [[File:57.581-SC39356.jpg|thumb|]] | ||
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== Synonyms and Related Terms == | == Synonyms and Related Terms == | ||
Revision as of 09:19, 15 January 2014
Description
The source of true Ivory. Long, curved elephant tusks are rootless incisors that are not covered with enamel. The size and structure of a tusks depends on the animal, its age and its living conditions. Tusks as long as 6-8 feet have been obtained from African elephants. The Indian elephants produce tusks about 4-5 feet long. The tusks are primarily composed of Dentin, a hard calcareous material; a new layer of dentin is added each season. This produces a layered ring structure that can be seen in fresh ivory. Deteriorated ivory tends to flake and peel along these lines.
Synonyms and Related Terms
ivory; presa ("dente") de elefante (Port.); slagtand van een olifant (Ned.)
Authority
- The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: F. Minney "Ivory"
- Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
- Henry Hodges, Artifacts: An Introduction to Early Materials and Technology, Ronald P. Frye, Kingston, Canada, 1988