Blogdorf Roadshow:
This is a cuff from Tussah's collection.
It is silver and petrified ivory. It was purchased at the Burton show last year.
The woman who sold it to Tussah stated that it was from Alaska.
From Tussah: I saw a much smaller simpler cuff bracelet of this type go for quite a bit on ebay. I look now and then for more of this type of bracelet, but rarely find it for sale on ebay.
Anyone have more information on this piece? Let us know in the comments.
Photo: Blogdorf Goodman
posted by Annieytown @ 5:53 AM
6 Inspired Comments
6 Inspired Comments:
I think (I hope!) the Tussah bracelet may have been made of mammoth ivory (yes, the prehistoric elephant-type creature!). This is the only type of ivory, aside from "grandfathered" antiques, that is legal to sell in the United States. There is some illegal stuff occasionally to find on Ebay, but by purchasing this ivory you are perpetuating the demand for the slaughter of elephants. This is a tragic and ongoing problem in Africa. I am linking to a heartbreaking story from National Geographic if you want more info.
http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0703/feature1/
Thanks Mrs D.
I am guessing that the "petrified" ivory description might mean it is very old. I am not sure about mammoth though.
How common is that? Do you know what time frame petrified ivory was used for jewelry and various accessories?
It is an antique and my uneducated guess is that it looks to be from the 1920's.
I am hoping someone can give us more information on a time frame and region.
Just an FYI: Tussah purchased this cuff from one of the best antique shows in Ohio and not off of ebay.
The seller said the ivory was very old. Possibly petrified walrus tusk. It was ivory from Alaska, not Africa. It is not a new piece of jewelry.
Tussah: I love that it is from Alaska!!!!
I was really hoping we would get an answer on this one.
My understanding that mammoth and petrified tusk jewelry is a fairly recent thing. There has been native Inuit use for centuries but a modern mammoth or walrus design might not be much older than a few decades.
Unfortunately elephant ivory still is used for jewelry (that's why thousands of elephants are poached each year), but it's been illegal (except for pieces older than 100 years) to sell within the U.S. since the passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1972. There is a big market for the stuff in Asia, unfortunately, even though an additional international Endangered Species treaty (called CITES) passed in 1989. And lots of THAT illegal ivory can make its way to the U.S. onto Ebay and through various informal channels that aren't very regulated.
Conservationists say that avoiding purchase of any elephant ivory will reduce the demand, and help save elephants. Nearly HALF of Africa's elephants were killed between 1979 and 1990! Just think of that. More are dying every day. The people who kill them are desperately poor, and they poach to make a living and feed their families. It's the demand from the wealthy that drives the whole thing. So sad.
I have a grandfathered carved elephant ivory cuff out of a very old Long Island estate that is quite simply the most extraordinary bit of carving I've ever seen (and I'm not prone to exaggeration). If anyone has any idea on how I can go about identifying the work, area of carving, etc. I would be most grateful.
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