Safekipedia

Ivory

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A beautiful ivory statue from the 13th century showing the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. It is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

What is Ivory?

Ivory is a hard, white material that comes from the tusks of elephants and the teeth of other animals. People have used ivory for thousands of years to make beautiful carvings, tools, and even piano keys. It is made mostly of dentin, a strong part found in teeth and tusks.

Where Did Ivory Come From?

Long ago, in places like the Indus Valley and the Harappan civilization, people traded ivory for useful items such as pins, combs, and game pieces. The word ivory comes from very old languages that talked about elephants.

Why is Ivory Special?

Ivory is very strong and lasts a long time. It was perfect for making special things like art, religious items, and pretty boxes. People from Greece and Rome used ivory to make statues and other beautiful things. In China, ivory was very special for making art and useful things.

Ivory Today

Today, taking ivory from animals like African and Asian elephants is not allowed because these animals are in danger of disappearing. Instead, people make ivory from other materials like Tagua nuts. Ivory is often used for small decorative items, jewelry, and piano keys.

11th-century Italian carved elephant tusk, Louvre.

Images

An ancient carved elephant tusk from the late 11th century, displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
A detailed 14th-century ivory carving showing scenes from the life of Jesus, including the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi, and Presentation in the Temple.
An antique ivory measure with intricate carvings, used for measuring and once attached to a strap.
An intricate ivory carving from the Sahebqeraniyeh Palace in Tehran, showcasing beautiful traditional art.
An ancient Minoan ivory figurine showing a youth in a leaping pose, dating back to around 1500 BC.
An ancient ivory carving showing Christ blessing Emperor Constantine VII, created around the year 945.
An ornate ivory cover from the Lorsch Gospels, created around 810 during the Carolingian era. This beautiful piece of art is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
A beautiful ivory and silver statue from the 1600s showing the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus, displayed in the Cathedral of Seville in Spain.
Tusks from a domestic boar named Big'Un, showing the natural structure of animal teeth.
A close-up view of a mammoth ivory tooth slice, showing its natural structure and patterns.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Ivory, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.