IVORY (OF. irurie, iroire, Fr. iroirc. It. avario, ALL. eburettni, from Lat. char, ivory, from Egypt. Elba, db, Copt. ebou, elm, elephant). The name formerly given to the main substance of the teeth of all animals,hut it is now restricted to that modification of dentine or tooth-substance which in transverse sections shows lines of different colors running in circular arcs, and forming by their decussation minute lozenge-shaped spaces. By this character, which is represented by every portion of any transverse section of an elephant's tusk, true ivory may be distinguished from every other kind of tooth-substance, and from every counterfeit. whether derived from tooth or bone. Although no other teeth, except those of the elephant, present this characteristic, many other animals, such as the walrus. narwhal, and hippo potamus, possess teeth. horns, or tusks which, from their large size and from their density. can be used for the same purpose in the arts as those for which true ivory is employed. In the case of the elephant the tusk is formed by the pro longation of the upper incisor, while the tusk of the hippopotamus and other animals is a pro longed canine. Perhaps with the aneients 'ivory' was used in the broader sense. for Pliny tells us that in Ethiopia ivory was so plentiful that it was used for door-posts, fences, and cattle-stalls. The ivory of the tusks of the African elephant is held in the highest estimation by the manu facturer, on account of its greater density and whiteness. The tucks are• yellow or brown on the outside, hut inside are snowy white. The tusks are of all sizes, from a few ounces in weight to more than 100 pounds each. Russia obtains large quantities from the tusks of fossil elephants. This product, called fossil ivory. is composed of calcium phosphate, 64; organic matter, 24; water, 11.15; calcium carbonate. 0.10. There are various chemical processes by which it may be dyed various colors, as black, blue, green. yellow. red, and violet. Ivory articles can be made flexi ble and semi-transparent by immersion in a solu tion of phosphoric acid of specific gravity L130. till they become translucent. They are then to be taken out, washed with water, and dried with a soft cloth, when they are found to be as flexible as leather. They harden on exposure to dry air. but resume their pliancy when inunersed in hot water. The opacity and elasticity of old ivory may sometimes be restored by boiling it in gela tin, but no satisfactory method for restoring its whiteness has yet been discovered.
The tusks of the elephant have from very early periods constituted an important article of trade, in consequence of their great beauty as a ma terial for ornamental manufactures, and even 11 (irks of fine art. Ivory is frequently mentioned in the old Testament. Solomon had a throne of ivory and gold. The Egyptians and Assyrians made much use of this material in ornamental work. With the Creeks it became a most im
portant material, and by the hands of the sculp tor Phidias a statue was produced of the Olympian Jupiter of such marvelous beauty and imposing majesty that it was eon side red a mis fortune to die without having seen it. The pupils of Phidias made many of these colossal images (chryselephantine statues), the bodies being in ivory and the drapery in gold. It was also extensively used by the llama us. who were supplied from Africa, and by them its use was diffused over the whole of En rope.
During the Renaissance ivory was 11111(.11 used for inlaid work in furniture, and the art of carving it was brought to a high state of skill. Caskets, statuettes, mirror-eases, chess-men, and many other articles were made of this material. The town of Dieppe in France has had its ivory factories since t he fifteenth emit ury. At present the demand for ivory is increasing, owing to the great taste and skill of some of the artists who work in this material, and, as the supply in creases but very slowly, it is likely to become very costly. The art of in ivory doubt less had its origin in India, where it has always been a much valued material. In China and Japan, especially the former country. the deco rative value of ivory is highly prized, and an infinite care and patienee are shown by the Chinese in his carving on this material.
In Europe and America. however, ivory has many uses and a very high commereial value, cutside the redlin of the fine arts. it is manu factured prineipally into billiard - halls, piano keys. combs, knife-handles, and numerous fancy articles. Ivory is difficult to cut, requiring the hardest and sharpest tools, hut it is easily sawed or filed. Large plates of veneer are obtained by cutting a spiral shaving round the tusks with what is known as a 'reciprocating saw'.' It is polished with various powders. Every scrap of material is saved in the ma 1111 fa et n re of ivory, the scraps, shavings, and dust being converted into ivory black or artists' piginents.
The tusks of the African elephant furnish at once the greatest and best parts of the ivory of commeree. very little now coming from India. African tusks sometimes reach a length of 9 feet and weigh 100 pounds or more. Those of the Indian elephant are smaller, averaging under 30 pounds. Tusks of extinct mammoths have been found 12 feet long and weighing 200 pounds. Africa exports about 1,764.000 pounds of ivory ammally,theproduct being distributed as follows: Zanzibar, 441.000 pounds; Niger territories, 160, 000 pounds: (lagoon, Lagos, etc., 105,000 pounds; ..lozambique, 220.000 pounds; Luanda and Ben guela. 221.000 pounds; Ca pe Colony. 110.000 pounds: Egypt, 331.000 pounds: IZed Sea Coast. 110,000 pounds. The principal markets are Lon don. Liverpool, and Antwerp.