Tagua nut

Carved figurine from tagua nut

Description

A natural replacement for Ivory obtained from the tagua palm (Phytelephas equatorialis) that is native to South America. Tagua nuts are harvested, the dried to form a hard, white, carvable material. They have been used since the 1920s as an inexpensive substitute for ivory. Tagua nuts were historically used for buttons and inlays, but in recent years, tourists have created an extensive market for small carved figurines.

Synonyms and Related Terms

tagua palm nut; vegetable ivory

Additional Images

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  Tagua palm nut tree

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  Tagua nuts (vegetable ivory)

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 424

• Website: http://www.oneworldprojects.com/products/tagua.shtml - contains images of many types of carved objects