Is Ivory Carving in Vogue?

It is a common misconception that ivory comes solely from elephant tusks but there are, in fact, many different types. Ivory can be obtained for carving from the teeth or tusks of many animals including the mammoth which became extinct during the Ice Age. In Siberia alone it is believed that there are still some 10 million mammoths buried in the area so there is ample ivory to be harvested from this source and therefore no animal need die in the pursuit of Ivory Carving.

The carving of ivory dates back to prehistoric times and through the ages the many ornamental things that were produced from it became coveted, prized and valued in many countries of the world and within many civilizations. Elephant ivory was for many years the material of choice because it was so easy to work with, being soft and obtainable in large pieces. Unfortunately man's love of ivory carving almost rendered the elephant extinct and it is now an illegal practice for obvious reasons. However, there are still many antique articles available for purchase which ivory carving collectors pay highly for. Many of these items find their way very quickly into vast private collections.

Mammoth tusks are also relatively easy to work with for carving but come in different colors depending on where they were buried. The outer layers of the tusks have absorbed various minerals and components of the earth so they may be brown, a bluish green or possibly grey in color however, as the layers are worked through the interior will ultimately produce a pure ivory color. Ivory carving has been prevalent in Europe, China, India, Eastern Asia and Africa almost since time began and many religions icons were carved from it.

Particularly ornate carvings can be found that are associated with the Islam religion because ivory lends itself as a material to be used for the intricate carving of the Islamic symbols. In Egypt many weapons with ivory handles have been found in the tombs of the Pharaohs along with trinket boxes, caskets and items of jewelry exquisitely inlaid with ivory carving. In Greece, Germany, France and the Netherlands examples can be found of statues and statuettes from almost every period in history. In China beautiful chess sets were produced together with chopsticks, room screens and furniture.

Japan too found many artistic ways to demonstrate the art of ivory carving producing toggles for purses and netsuke. There are innumerable examples around the globe of the versatility of ivory for carving purposes throughout history and up to the present day. For many years in some cultures a gift of an elephant carved from ivory or an object with elephants inlaid in ivory was a popular gift for lovers based on the memory of the elephant. If someone received such a gift they would never forget who gave it to them.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory Carving Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts of Ivory Carving.

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Ivory Netsuke - Exquisite Carvings for Display

Netsuke came about during Japan's seventeenth century (Edo period). These carved pieces were created for practical purposes - used as the clasps of corded purses that were hidden on a person and held valuables such as monies, tobacco, and jewelry, some even held important papers and the like. The netsuke was well known for both their utility and aesthetic value. These carved pieces often depicted people, places, things, sexual values as well as religious ones, etc. They were carved from materials such as hardwoods, onyx and most favorably: ivory.

Ivory is what an animal's tooth is considered to be when used for material purposes. Often the name of the animal is used when describing something as ivory: elephant ivory pendant, boars tooth ivory sculptures, mammoth ivory and the like. The Japanese would often use ivory for netsuke because of its simplistic beauty. During this time, and even now, the concept of Wabi-Sabi was a popular one. This concept, the honoring of beauty in the mundane to an enlightened level formed some of the core values of that period. Ivory allowed a person to express this beauty in the form of ornamentation without defacing the value of it.

The use of ivory netsuke was a practical choice as well. This material was a durable one for the most part. While historians today do not have many remnants of ancient ivory pieces, due to their susceptibility to the elements, newly made pieces, and netsuke during the seventeenth century lasted quite some time if well cared for. In some cases, depending on the mammals tooth used, pieces were more durable that others. With this in mind, some teeth cannot be used in the carving of ivory because of their strength and hardness. Certain teeth are just unable to be carved.

What has been preserved of ancient Japanese Ivory Netsuke has opened the world of Easter histories to experts and enthusiasts today. The ivory netsuke are a perfect representation of not only the art and craftsmanship of Edo period Japan but also the life styles, ideologies, relationships, and core values of the peoples alive during that time. With the netsuke representing the myths, history, and culture of this time period, an unlimited source of insight and knowledge is available to the world today. As they physically clasp together the ends of a cord, so to, do they bridge the distance between two very different worlds.

Select from a wide variety of netsuke carved from numerous materials, if you are looking for a specific piece. There are online stores that sell these at affordable prices to help you own netsuke.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory Netsuke Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of ivory netsuke at Ivory Netsuke

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What Are Ivory Carvings?

The carving of ivory, mostly seen in the use of elephant tusks, has been around for centuries. It is a crafting skill that has been used as far back as ancient Byzantine and is most widely seen exemplified by the Romans and their many art remnants. However, nowadays with the use of ivory made illegal throughout most of the known world, it is an art form that has been rarefied and become one of prestigious intent.

The ivory carvings should not be constricted to just that of elephant tusks. In fact, almost any large tooth from mammals' world wide can be used. Although in some cases, the outer shell is much too hard for any carving of it to be effective. These pieces have an old world charm and a primal beauty. Ivory can be found in the Japanese Netsuke of the late Edo period and in amulets and figurines of ancient Greece and Rome.

However, the durability of these pieces, especially when exposed to the elements and the earth is limited. Therefore not much is left in way of actual carved pieces, especially in regards to Greece. Of course there are still quite a number despite being limited in quantity and these pieces are one of the most popular items on the auction block today. Art savants and museum curators are continually on the look out for original ivory carvings and archaeologists consider such a find to be quite beneficial to their research. Art savants of course usually are looking to simply add such taste to their collections. But no matter the enthusiasm towards such a piece, such a find is a valuable one.

There are of course still ivory carvings being produced, but because of the ban these are mostly black market items and replicas of original pieces. Because of this, as a buyer you will need to be cautious as to how much such an item is really worth. Also, depending on what country you are buying said piece from, you need to be aware of the customs rules: nobody wants to travel with illegal items and what may be perfectly fine in one country may not be in another.

All in all, ivory carvings are a dated practice but a beautiful one. These pieces are both elegant and primal. As jewelry or works of art, whether they are adorning a neck or a table, these pieces will add a bit of uniqueness to any atmosphere. There are a variety of forms as well, from that of animal attributes to human features and even religious statuary. So, while not everyone can have the Venus of Brassempouy in their collection, if they acquire an ivory carving of any sort they will have something to brag about.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory Carvings Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts from Ivory carvings.

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