Vegetable ivory is obtained from a tree called Hyphaene Phytelephas that produces approximately 20 kg of the substance a year. The tree grows in the wild, in a sub-tropical climate.

It is called vegetable ivory because it is very similar to animal ivory.

The natives of the countries where this tree thrives sell small sculptures and necklaces that depict typical themes of their Country.

Since time immemorial, the native Quechua have used it to make their ornaments.
ornament - vegetable ivory

Since 1826 it has been widely used in the button industry as a replacement for elephant ivory. It is very difficult to carve and is more easily processed using a lathe.

 

Vegetable ivory differs from animal ivory in that it has a different smell to animal ivory when it is burnt, it is completely soluble in sulphuric acid and has different microscopic features tied to the different ultra-structures of the two products
ornament - vegetable ivory
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