Fossilised ivory

Ivory from mammoth tusks preserved in permafrost, sold as a legal substitute for banned elephant ivory.

Mammoth ivory comes from animals that died tens of thousands of years ago, so it falls outside the conventions banning trade in elephant ivory and can be legally sold where its provenance is documented. It is denser and harder than modern ivory, often carrying a banded blue-brown patina that inlay makers value. It is commonly described as contributing a hard, clear response similar to bone, though the difference from a well-fitted bone nut is small. It is heavy, expensive and available only in small irregular pieces, so it is used for inlays and small parts rather than anything large.

Example: A mammoth ivory nut gives a high-end instrument the hard, warm contact of the old material while staying within the law.

typical use: Inlays, nuts and saddles on premium instruments with documented provenance.

Fossilised ivory

See also