What Is Ivory?

Ivory is made of a creamy white substance called dentin that makes up the teeth of all animals.  Ivory is a substance best known for its use in decorative art and jewelry.  Animals with very large teeth or tusks are targeted by hunters and poachers who want to obtain this valuable substance.  This has left hippopotami, whales, and particularly elephants in a compromising position.

Ivory is used in the manufacturing of jewelry, billiard balls, and musical instruments including, of course, piano keys.  Many people became concerned about drastically declining elephant populations a few decades ago and this brought about restrictions on hunting and the global ivory trade.  As a result of both moral implications and lack of raw material available, many craftspeople looked for alternatives including vegetable ivory, specifically tagua.

The term ‘ivory’ in English originates from several African words that mean ‘elephant’ indicating that these creatures have traditionally been the primary source for ivory throughout European history.  The term has been in use for approximately 1,000 years which indicates that desire for ivory quite possibly led to the decline of elephant populations in countries where they used to thrive including India, Japan, and China.  Scrimshaw artisans in North America obtained their ivory from walruses and whales.

Ivory has been popular with artists for so many years because it is hard and close grained which means it can be shaved to make inlays or carved whole into elaborate and intricate designs.  Ivory is also used to make practical goods and has been used in a wide variety of cultures for many years.  Because it is such a durable material, it has enabled historians to learn a great deal about long gone civilizations.

There are two classes of ivory: Live, from recently killed animals, and dead, ivory that has been stored.  Dead ivory is less valuable than live ivory simply because it becomes less durable and more likely to fracture with age.  This makes it more difficult to work with.  Because of the restrictions on global ivory trade, artisans have increasingly turned to tagua as the supply of live animal derived ivory has diminished.  Tagua is the seed of the ivory palm tree and is a sustainable, renewable resource.

Some people confuse ivory with bone, however, ivory does not have blood vessels which means that it is far more dense than bone.  Dentin, which makes up ivory, is the part of the tooth that is above the tooth pulp but under the enamel.  It is made up of a mixture of minerals, collagen, and water.  Ivory is mineralized tissue which is much stronger than bone.

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Ivory is the substance that makes up the teeth and tusks of animals like elephants, rinos and walruses. It's a form of dentine, which is like enamel.

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