The great beauty of elephant ivory is due to its warm creamy color and rich grain patterns. The grain changes with the lighting angle, a phenomenon exhibited in opal and tiger's eye and known as chatoyancy. Elephant ivory crosscut or end grain reveals an outer ring of bark or cementum surrounding the inner ivory, which exhibits growth rings and a fascinating moire pattern known as “Schreger lines.” To these qualities add the fact that it is the choicest of carving materials and that it takes a natural shine as lustrous as rubbed lacquer. The natural beauty found in elephant ivory is quite simply enchanting. All of the elephant ivory we offer for sale was imported before the ban and is purchased from estates. No permits are required for sales, shipping or ownership of this ivory within the U.S.

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Elephant ivory is excellent for scrimshaw, carving, knife handles, pistol grips, jewelry, musical instruments, cue sticks, inlay, pens, duck calls, crafts and repairs. Click here for instructions on working with ivory.

And here are some fascinating historical pictures of elephant tusks.

RE01 CUE FERRULE STOCK (see mammoth ivory for export-legal cues). Roughed "blocks" for turning on lathe.
(A) 9/16" sq. x 1" long-$13.
(B) 9/16" sq. x 1-1/4" long-$16.
(C) 5/8" sq. x 1" long-$17.
(D) 5/8" sq. x 1-1/4"-$20.

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RE02 ELEPHANT TUSK CROSS CUT SLICES (LIMITED STOCK) Just as a tree reveals its life story in the cross cut view of its trunk, an elephant's life history is recorded in its tusks. Just as stones emit energy, ivory too has energy. The story of each elephant is recorded on the growth rings and Schreger lines, each as unique as fingerprints. Feel the energy, see the story, get these talismans while you can. We have a selection of pieces already cut in various sizes with the thickness ranging from 1/8" to 1/4". Many of these pieces have the black age cracks that form near the tip of a tusk. They will not get worse; they were in the tusk as it grew and add character. The small cross cuts can be used as pendants, brooches, or bolos or for carrying as unique touchstones. Larger slices are good for scrimshaw belt buckles or display pieces. The hoop slices are cut from the hollow and make unique “jungle jewelry” center pieces. If you need larger, thinner, or thicker slices or pieces without age cracks, please inquire about our cutting current stock. Slices up to 6" diameter are sometimes available. These are sanded smooth, but we can polish one or both sides for scrimshaw or maximum handling and viewing pleasure. We can also shape them into discs, teardrops, etc. If you are not “set up” to polish ivory, you should consider letting us handle it. For a few dollars more, you will get a fine finish without the hassle. The pieces shown are priced at $2 per gram unpolished. Heavy cast sterling silver bails like shown on “B” (below) are $2.50 installed—they have two facing prongs that go into a tiny hole drilled front to back in the ivory piece when the bail is pinched. They are attractive, very secure and allow ample room for chains or cords. They can be installed on any slices.

The pieces pictured above are examples. We can cut thinner slices to lower the cost; thicker slices will increase it.

(A) 3/16" thick x 1 1/8" wide x 1 1/2" tall-$16
(B) 1/8" x 1 1/2" x 1 5/8"-$18 (with Sterling Silver bail add $2.50)
(C) 1/8" x 1 3/8" x 1 1/2"-$20
(D) 3/16" x 1 5/8" x 2"-$26
(E) 3/16" x 1 3/4" x 2 1/8"-$38
(F) 3/16" x 2 3/4" x 3 1/2"-$62
(G) 1/4" x 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"-$48
(H) 3/16" x 1 3/4" x 2"-$16
(I) 1/8" x 1/3/4" x 2 1/2"-$28
(J) 3 /16" x 2 1/8" x 2 5/8"-$56
(K) 7/32" x 2 1/4" x 3" nice and thick with lots of character-$68
(L) 1/8" x 3" x 3"-$56

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These are some exceptional examples of extreme figure, almost too nice to do anything to except marvel and share the show with others.

(M) 3/16" thick x 2 1/4" wide x 2 5/8" tall. Some of the boldest, tawniest Schreger soaked growth rings I have ever seen, unbelievable-$50.
(N) 1/8" x 2 1/8" x 2 1/2" This is as good as it gets, with the perfect shape, a tiny nerve, full and perfect bark ring, very rich color, good growth rings, well defined Schreger lines all the way the to the center (very unusual), and waves of light radiating like spokes from the center. Quite possibly the tastiest speciman I've seen, though certainly not the largest-$100.
(O) 3/16" x 3" x 3 3/8" A truly beautiful piece, with almost hypnotic rings-$135.
(P) 1/4" x 4 1/2" x 5" This one's got it all including the sunburst halo. This piece is special it was taken before its time, sliced before the tusks had had enough years of curing (drying), and it tells the tale with its slightly pringleish warp, the very reason for the upper left "shadow" -$285

RE05 SCRAP-ELEPHANT IVORY. We have three grades of ivory scrap (all are unsuitable for pistol grips or knife handles). Excellent if you make jewelry, small carvings or do inlay work. Limited to stock on hand—the more you buy, the cheaper it gets, so stock up now! (Order slabs for grips or knife handles.)
Grade A chunky pieces up to 1/2 oz. in size & many pieces of 3/8" - 1/2" thick. This material is best for small carvings or slicing into small jewelry pieces; 1/4 lb.-$14, 1/2 lb.-$24, 1 lb.- $42, 5 lb.-$185.

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Grade A flattish pieces mostly 1/8" thick. This material is best for small earrings, pendants and inlay; 1/4 lb.-$14, 1/2 lb.-$24, 1 lb.- $38, 5 lb.-$175.

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Grade B flat - smaller pieces for jewelry, inlay. One little project will pay for the pound! 1/2 lb.-$8, 1 lb.-$14, 5 lb.-$50!

RE06 SECTIONS-ELEPHANT TUSK The center cut with no tip and no hollow. Sections usually run from about 4" - 5.5" diam. Unfortunately we do not have small elephant tusk sections for knife handles (1-1/4 to 1-1/2" diam). You will need to order cut blocks for this purpose. Please call for current price and availability.

RE07 SLABS-ELEPHANT IVORY for knife handles, scrimshaw or jewelry, cut with the grain. Our slabs are smooth and flat, and true to size; just let us know your finished size so you don’t pay for more than you really need. Prices may vary a bit as slabs may be thicker or slightly oversize—we pick them out as close to ordered size as possible. Because some slabs taper in width, you may save money if you give us your width requirements for both ends (or smallest end anyway). We can cut slabs to the thickness you require but generally only in 3" length or 4 1/2" length. At times we do not have slabs over 2 1/2" wide, so to avoid delays, please order the narrowest slabs you require, i.e., if you need a pair of 1-1/4" wide slabs, please don't order a 2-1/2" wide slab, order a pair of 1-1/4" wide slabs.