Ivory narwhal

Ivory, or dentine, the main constituent of the teeth of mammals, is a relatively hard, cream-white material that can be carved or mechanically formed, and its surface can be polished to a high shine (O Connor et al. 1987 Wills 1968). Of particular interest is the ivory that makes up the tusks (large incisor teeth) of large mammals such as elephants, hippopotami, whales, narwhals, and... 

F ure 3.5 Tno tupilaks from Greenland. Mid-twentieth century. Spermwhale ivory (standing) and narwhal ivory. 

The diagnostic for certain ivories is their structural patterns, for example the engine turning pattern in elephant or mammoth ivory, the tapioca pudding look of the secondary dentine in walrus ivory, the diagonal pattern on narwhal ivory and the concentric lines and dark central spot of sperm whale ivory (F 3.4 and 3.12-3.17). In larger carvii or objects, the curvature of a tusk may be detectable. Examination of the structural pattern is needed to determine which type of tusk has been used. 

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