Ivory is a main product that is seen in abundance and was used for trading in Harappan civilization. Finished ivory products that were seen in Harappan sites include kohl sticks, pins, awls, hooks, toggles, combs, game pieces, dice, inlay and other personal ornaments. Ivory is a very durable material that is not easily damaged or destroyed; it will not burn and is very little affected by immersion in water.

Understanding the Context

Ivory is similar to a hardwood in some of its properties. It is quite dense, it polishes beautifully, and it is easily worked with woodworking tools. Learn the history of ivory, how to identify real vs. fake ivory, and understand current UK ivory laws.

Key Insights

A must-read guide for collectors and conservation advocates. Ivory is a hard, white material derived from the tusks and teeth of elephants. It has been used for centuries to create jewelry and other works of art, as well as religious artifacts, musical instruments, and even weapons. African elephant ivory is particularly prized, due to its unique coloration. IVORY definition: 1.

Final Thoughts

the hard yellowish-white substance that forms the tusks of some animals such as elephants, used…. Learn more. Different animals produce distinct types of ivory, each with unique characteristics that influence their use, value, and legal status. The three most commonly recognized types of ivory come from elephants, mammoths, and walruses. Ivory is the hard, smooth, substance, composed primarily of dentin, that constitutes the tusks, or upper incisors, of elephants (family Elephantidae), including the extinct mammoths (genus Mammuthus), as well as the elephant-like mastodons (family Mammutidae, order Proboscidea). Trace the deadly history of the illegal ivory trade.

Throughout history, the human desire for ivory—used in products from jewelry to piano keys to priceless religious art objects—has far outmatched efforts to stop the killing of African elephants for their tusks.