Mar 10, 2025 · Ivory is made from the tusks and teeth of elephants, whales and several other animals. While bone and ivory can be similar in appearance, weight, and feel, ivory tends to be of higher value and more regulated than bone. Start by determining if the piece is bone or ivory rather than a synthetic or other replica material.

Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is the same, regardless of the species of origin, but ivory contains structures of mineralised collagen. [1]

We’ve all seen photographs of majestic elephants sporting long, off-white tusks on either side of their trunks. This ivory is both beautiful on the animals and essential to the species’ survival. But what exactly is it?

The key feature to identifying elephant ivory is a unique pattern of crosshatching that appear in cross sections of elephant tusk. These lines, actually rows of microscopic tubes, are known as Schreger Lines; where they cross form Schreger Angles.

2 days ago · Elephant tusks are upper incisor teeth, similar to human teeth, consisting of a central core of pulp, covered in dentine and encased in bone-like cementum. The internal dentine, making up 95% of the tusk, is the substance commonly referred to as ‘ivory’.

Dec 24, 2021 · Walrus ivory is much like elephant ivory in form and function, albeit with a lot of aesthetic differences. The most identifiable trait of walrus ivory is its grainy core.

Elephant and mammoth tusk ivory comes from the two modified upper incisors of extant and extinct members of the same order (Proboscidea). African and Asian elephants are both extant.

Jun 4, 2024 · These tusks are made of ivory, a cream-colored dense bone tissue that surrounds enamel. Elephants use them for a variety of purposes, including foraging, fighting, and protection. Devastatingly, an elephant’s tusks are also what makes them a target for poachers.

Aug 11, 2020 · This updated guide includes detailed information on how to tell ivories and lookalikes apart through physical characteristics and provides guidance on distinguishing between ivories in trade online, where a significant portion of illegal trade in elephant ivory is …

An easy way to identify ivory from a typical bone is to see it under a magnifying glass in bright light. Check if the item appears to have any grain, lines, tiny dark-colored holes, or black dots.