Ivory is a dense, organic material composed primarily of dentine from the tusks and teeth of animals such as elephants, mammoths, walruses, hippopotamuses and others. It is off-white to yellowish in color and can show characteristic cross-hatch patterns (Schreger lines) in cross-section for elephant and mammoth ivory. With Mohs hardness around 2.5–3 and good toughness, it has historically been prized for carving, inlay and decorative objects rather than faceted gems.
Price History
Value Drivers
Ivory is typically traded and valued by size, weight, carving quality and provenance rather than by carat in the gemological sense. Larger, intact pieces suitable for substantial carvings or historical artifacts have historically attracted higher values, though modern legal restrictions heavily govern trade in many types of ivory.
Color and patina have an important effect on aesthetic appeal. Even, creamy off-white to warm ivory tones with subtle aging patina are often preferred. Strong discoloration, staining or patchy yellowing may be less desirable, though patina can add character and provenance clues to antique pieces.
In ivory, 'clarity' refers to structural integrity: pieces with minimal cracking, warping, or extensive grain separation are valued more highly. Natural growth lines and Schreger patterns are expected and can aid identification, but deep shrinkage cracks and extensive damage reduce usability and value.
Ivory is carved, turned or inlaid rather than faceted. Value depends greatly on craftsmanship: fine, detailed carving, balanced proportions, and careful preservation of structural stability are all crucial. Poorly executed work or aggressive shaping that causes cracking reduces both artistic and material value.
Market Dynamics
Historically, ivory came primarily from elephant tusks, with additional sources from mammoths (sub-fossil ivory), walrus, hippo and other animals. Due to conservation concerns and international agreements, trade in modern elephant ivory is now heavily restricted or banned in many jurisdictions, and most legal markets focus on documented antique or fossil (e.g., mammoth) ivory. As a result, the effective supply available for legitimate trade has decreased significantly.
Demand has shifted away from newly carved elephant ivory in many countries due to ethical, legal and conservation concerns. Interest persists in legally documented antique pieces and in fossil ivory from extinct species (such as mammoths), as well as in restoration of historical objects. Many modern designers instead turn to ethical alternatives like tagua nut, bone, resins or synthetics.
Recent Trends: tightening global regulations and growing ethical awareness have significantly reduced legitimate demand for new elephant ivory, while interest in compliant antique and fossil ivory remains limited to specialist collectors and restorers.
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Insights
International agreements such as CITES, along with national laws in many countries, tightly regulate or prohibit trade in most forms of elephant ivory.
Mammoth ivory, sourced from long-extinct animals found in permafrost deposits, occupies a different legal category in many jurisdictions and has been used as a partial substitute—though it is also subject to increasing scrutiny.
Ivory can be distinguished from plastics and other substitutes by internal grain patterns, Schreger lines and response to hot pin tests (though destructive tests are avoided for valuable pieces).
Historically, ivory has been used for piano keys, billiard balls, inlay in furniture and weapons, and intricate figurative carvings across many cultures.
Because ivory is organic, it can shrink, crack and yellow over time, especially in environments with fluctuating humidity and temperature.
Modern ethical and legal considerations strongly favor the use of alternative materials for new production, reserving ivory primarily for conservation, study and regulated trade in antiques.