Difference between revisions of "Ivory"
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| − | [[File:13.3509-SC28637.jpg|thumb|]] | + | [[File:13.3509-SC28637.jpg|thumb|Ivory comb, Egyptian<br>MFA# 13.3509]] |
== Description == | == Description == | ||
Long, curved elephant tusks that are rootless, non-enameled incisors. 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. Ivory is a relatively soft, workable but durable material that is white to pale yellow in color. Elephant tusks are primarily composed of dentin, a hard calcareous material composed of [[calcium hydroxyapatite]] and protein with small amounts of [[calcium carbonate]], [[calcium fluoride]], and [[magnesium phosphate]]. 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. Ivory was widely traded from prehistoric times. It was considered valuable by all cultures and widely used in utilitarian objects, jewelry, sculpture, seals, game-pieces, furniture, marquetry and scientific instruments. Ivory reached its peak periods of use in the 13th and 14th centuries. From 1976 to 1989, more than 100 nations banned ivory imports from the Asian elephant; African elephant ivory was added to the ban in 1989. Mammoth ivory is not banned. | Long, curved elephant tusks that are rootless, non-enameled incisors. 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. Ivory is a relatively soft, workable but durable material that is white to pale yellow in color. Elephant tusks are primarily composed of dentin, a hard calcareous material composed of [[calcium hydroxyapatite]] and protein with small amounts of [[calcium carbonate]], [[calcium fluoride]], and [[magnesium phosphate]]. 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. Ivory was widely traded from prehistoric times. It was considered valuable by all cultures and widely used in utilitarian objects, jewelry, sculpture, seals, game-pieces, furniture, marquetry and scientific instruments. Ivory reached its peak periods of use in the 13th and 14th centuries. From 1976 to 1989, more than 100 nations banned ivory imports from the Asian elephant; African elephant ivory was added to the ban in 1989. Mammoth ivory is not banned. | ||
| − | [[File:1996.31-SC64776.jpg|thumb|]] | + | The CITES Identification Guide for Ivory and Ivory Substitutes (2020) is available at: [https://cites.org/sites/default/files/ID_Manuals/R8_IvoryGuide_07162020_low-res.pdf link] |
| − | + | [[File:1996.31-SC64776.jpg|thumb|Ivory cup<br>MFA# 1996.31]] | |
== Synonyms and Related Terms == | == Synonyms and Related Terms == | ||
elephant tusk; dentine; dentin; ivoire (Fr.); marfil (Esp.); marfim (Port.); Elfenbein (Deut.); ivoor (Ned.) | elephant tusk; dentine; dentin; ivoire (Fr.); marfil (Esp.); marfim (Port.); Elfenbein (Deut.); ivoor (Ned.) | ||
| + | [[[SliderGallery rightalign|Ivory.TIF~FTIR (MFA)]]] | ||
| + | == Physical and Chemical Properties == | ||
| − | + | * Ivory is dense with compact ores | |
| − | + | * Elephant ivory and mammoth ivory can be differentiated microscopically by their Schreger patterns of intersecting arcs (Espinoza and Mann 1993). | |
| − | Ivory is dense with compact ores | + | * UV autofluorescence ranges from white to purple or blue for elephant ivory and white to yellow for mammoth ivory. |
| − | + | * Mohs Hardness = 2-3 | |
| − | Elephant ivory and mammoth ivory can be differentiated microscopically by their Schreger patterns of intersecting arcs (Espinoza and Mann 1993). | + | * Density = 1.70-1.93 |
| − | + | * Refractive Index = 1.539, 1.541 | |
| − | UV autofluorescence ranges from white to purple or blue for elephant ivory and white to yellow for mammoth ivory. | ||
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== Additional Images == | == Additional Images == | ||
| Line 47: | Line 23: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:ivory figure.jpg|Ivory figure | File:ivory figure.jpg|Ivory figure | ||
| − | File:ivory closeup.jpg|Ivory | + | File:ivory closeup.jpg|Ivory close-up |
| + | File:1993.29-E10164CR-d1.jpg|Sri Lankan casket<br>MFA# 1993.29 | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| − | + | == Resources and Citations == | |
| − | == | + | * J.Wornoff, "Identification of Ivory Covers and Comparison to Ivory Portrait Miniatures" ''e-conservation magazine'' No. 16:24-38, 2010 at [http://www.e-conservationline.com/content/view/947 link] |
| − | + | * F.Minney, "Ivory" ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996. | |
| − | * ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: ivory" | + | * E.Espinoza, J-J.Mann "The History and Significance of the Schreger Pattern in Proboscidean Ivory Characterization" ''JAIC'', 32:241-248, 1993. |
| − | + | * C.Snow, T.Weisser, "The Examination and Treatment of Ivory and Related Materials", IIC Conference, Adhesives and Consolidants, 1984. | |
| + | * Gem Identification Lab Manual, Gemological Institute of America, 2016. | ||
| + | * J.Thornton,"The Structure of Ivory and Ivory Substitutes", AIC Preprints, Philadelphia, 1981, p.173-181. | ||
| + | * Wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory Ivory] Accessed Dec 2022 | ||
| + | * ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: ivory" [Accessed October 18, 2001]. | ||
* R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, ''Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia'', Dover Publications, New York, 1966 | * R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, ''Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia'', Dover Publications, New York, 1966 | ||
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* G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 | * G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 | ||
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* Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing) | * Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing) | ||
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* Hermann Kuhn, ''Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities'', Butterworths, London, 1986 | * Hermann Kuhn, ''Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities'', Butterworths, London, 1986 | ||
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* Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979 | * Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979 | ||
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* Oppi Untracht, ''Jewelry Concepts and Technology'', Doubleday & Co., Inc., New York City, 1985 | * Oppi Untracht, ''Jewelry Concepts and Technology'', Doubleday & Co., Inc., New York City, 1985 | ||
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* Benjamin Burack, ''Ivory and Its Uses'', Charles E. Tuttle and Co., Vermont, 1984 | * Benjamin Burack, ''Ivory and Its Uses'', Charles E. Tuttle and Co., Vermont, 1984 | ||
| − | + | * Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000 | |
| − | * Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, | ||
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* ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=1.83-1.92; ref. index=1.539, 1.541 | * ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=1.83-1.92; ref. index=1.539, 1.541 | ||
Latest revision as of 12:55, 5 January 2023
Description
Long, curved elephant tusks that are rootless, non-enameled incisors. 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. Ivory is a relatively soft, workable but durable material that is white to pale yellow in color. Elephant tusks are primarily composed of dentin, a hard calcareous material composed of Calcium hydroxyapatite and protein with small amounts of Calcium carbonate, Calcium fluoride, and Magnesium phosphate. 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. Ivory was widely traded from prehistoric times. It was considered valuable by all cultures and widely used in utilitarian objects, jewelry, sculpture, seals, game-pieces, furniture, marquetry and scientific instruments. Ivory reached its peak periods of use in the 13th and 14th centuries. From 1976 to 1989, more than 100 nations banned ivory imports from the Asian elephant; African elephant ivory was added to the ban in 1989. Mammoth ivory is not banned.
The CITES Identification Guide for Ivory and Ivory Substitutes (2020) is available at: link
Synonyms and Related Terms
elephant tusk; dentine; dentin; ivoire (Fr.); marfil (Esp.); marfim (Port.); Elfenbein (Deut.); ivoor (Ned.)
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Ivory is dense with compact ores
- Elephant ivory and mammoth ivory can be differentiated microscopically by their Schreger patterns of intersecting arcs (Espinoza and Mann 1993).
- UV autofluorescence ranges from white to purple or blue for elephant ivory and white to yellow for mammoth ivory.
- Mohs Hardness = 2-3
- Density = 1.70-1.93
- Refractive Index = 1.539, 1.541
Additional Images
Ivory figure
Ivory close-up
Sri Lankan casket
MFA# 1993.29
Resources and Citations
- J.Wornoff, "Identification of Ivory Covers and Comparison to Ivory Portrait Miniatures" e-conservation magazine No. 16:24-38, 2010 at link
- F.Minney, "Ivory" The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996.
- E.Espinoza, J-J.Mann "The History and Significance of the Schreger Pattern in Proboscidean Ivory Characterization" JAIC, 32:241-248, 1993.
- C.Snow, T.Weisser, "The Examination and Treatment of Ivory and Related Materials", IIC Conference, Adhesives and Consolidants, 1984.
- Gem Identification Lab Manual, Gemological Institute of America, 2016.
- J.Thornton,"The Structure of Ivory and Ivory Substitutes", AIC Preprints, Philadelphia, 1981, p.173-181.
- Wikipedia: Ivory Accessed Dec 2022
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: ivory" [Accessed October 18, 2001].
- R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
- Oppi Untracht, Jewelry Concepts and Technology, Doubleday & Co., Inc., New York City, 1985
- Benjamin Burack, Ivory and Its Uses, Charles E. Tuttle and Co., Vermont, 1984
- Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=1.83-1.92; ref. index=1.539, 1.541