Ivory has been prized for thousands of years for its rich, creamy color, its fine texture, and its ease of carving. Until quite recently it was a popular material for both jewellery and ornaments, but international restrictions on trading now help to protect the animals from which ivory can be taken. The teeth or tusks of mammals all have ivory as a constituent. Although usually associated with elephants, ivory from the Hippopotamus, Wild Boar, and Warthog is also used. Marine mammals such as the Sperm Whale, Walrus. Sea Lion and Narwhal provide ivory as well. Fossil ivory - from prehistoric animals such as mammoths, mastodons, or dinosaurs - can also be carved.

The best ivory is from the African Elephant. It has a warm tint and little grain or mottling. Ivory from the Indian Elephant is a denser white, softer, and easier to work, but yellows more easily. Other sources of ivory include Europe. Burma and Indonesia.

The use of ivory stimulants - bone. Horn, jasper, vegetable ivory, plastic, and resin has been strongly encouraged in order to protect ivory-bearing animals. Ivory carving has a long history: one piece of carved mammoth ivory found in France is estimated to be over 30.000 years old. In China and Japan it remains highly valued, even today.