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Ivory Jewelry @ Jewel Info 4 U
By: Ms Nandita Ray
Part of organic
jewelry series
Organic jewelry Part 2,
Part3
IVORY FactsGetting hands on real
Ivory is like "living in an Ivory
Tower', next to impossible. This is
because real Ivory from the now
endangered Indian Elephants is
banned. African ivory sold and
purchased from legal sources is
allowed with some strict
regulations. Though ivory in its
original sense meant only elephant
tusks, today it carries a wider
circle of animals like Walrus, Boar,
Sperm whale, Wart Hog, Hippopotamus
and some seeds resembling ivory
within its fold.
Elephant Ivory
 Elephant
Ivory is creamy white,
opaque to look, hard and grainy to
feel. It is made up of layers of
dentine. The inner most layer is the
newest and softest. Dentine is made
up of 70 % of inorganic material
while the remaining is collagen, an
organic substance. Different species
have different types of ivories.
Some are soft while some hard. The
tusks are not coated with enamel.
Two thirds of the tusk is hollow.
The calcified layers of tissue when
cut transversely show lines in a
particular manner called cross
hatching. Some grain lines on the
surface reveal a V shape. If held
under 10X, oval shaped dots will
appear. The color of the tusks
depends on the species. African
ivory exhibits creamish beige and
appears mellow and soft. The Indian
elephant's tusk is white, gets
yellow with age and looks like
marble. It can be cut and carved
easily, dyed and painted It picks up
polish easily because the pores are
filled with an oil like substance
that ooze out gently.
Ivory from the now extinct mammal,
with ridged molar teeth and hairy,
from the Pleistocene Epoch was also
used.
Hippopotamus IvoryHave long
grooved and spiral tusks. It is the
second most widely used ivory.
Whale IvoryTheir lower jaws are used
for making jewelry and accessories.
Walrus IvoryThe upper canines and
other teeth are used. It is called
Morse ivory.
Wart HogsThe canines which grow
upwards are used.
Organic SubstituteTagua nut
replaced real ivory. It was brought
from South America to England. This
led to the setting up of a number of
factories in France and England in
1862. By the end of the nineteenth
century vegetable ivory was
flourishing. The nuts of the Betel
tree and Areca nuts are also used.
Tips on buying Ivory JewelryIvory is
used for making costume as well as
expensive jewelry. Bangles,
bracelets, pendants, rings,
earrings, necklaces, pins, buttons,
beads, cuff links, piano key,
billiard ball and figurines. Real
elephant ivory is difficult to get.
Besides it falls under banned items.
Genuine Ivory will appear
fluorescent under strong light. It
will give off whitish violet glow.
Real Ivory will show age by its
yellow brown color, which will
become dull yellow under artificial
light.
It will have a uniform and compact
texture.
It will show the Schreger lines.
When held under 10X loupe it will
reveal oval shaped dots. Plastic or
resin will not have these ducts.
Related Links :
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Belly Button Piercing
The Egyptians, the Indians and many other cultures pierced this humble button to show the significance of the person sporting a pierced navel - Royalty, Warriors, exceptional Beauty. |
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