Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-12
DAILY. EVENING STAR.
'TIV0RY Y.

Nine-tenths Of all the ivory bnoupb,
directly into the United States comes
from Zanzibar, in-Africa, to the port o.
salem; and this is all large--a lot O,
50, 900 pounds which we saw averaging
gu pounds to the tnsk. It. has been con.
lactured that eventually the supply would
be stopped, on account Of the extinction
OF the animal; but this, we are informe
by those conversant with the subject, is
not probable, as large quantities arc
brought from the unexplored interior ol
Africa by the natives and sold to traders
on the coast, Of which part is obtained
from animals who have died naturally
and the elephant is too large game to be
seriously affected by the weapons of say
ages. The dealers can readily discern
by the appearance of the tooth whether
1t was taken from freshly slain animal
or not. Some Of them, broken and mu-
tilated, give evidence of deadly encoun-
ters their proprietors have had in their
native jungles, while others are financed
by African rats probably, for the teeth
marks are large and deep incisions.
The English traders, owing to their
superior facilities, have the monopoly of
the market in India and Africa, and the
choicest articles can only be obtained from
them. In price it varies from 75c. to
IA IS per pound, nett, which are the ex-
tremes for corresponding qualities. With
IN live years past owing to its extended
appropriation to purposes of art and lux
ury, 1t has increased twenty per cent in
cost, and great economy is requisite to
work up the scraps and clippings to
advantage as its curved form will not
admit of Strengthening, without destroy
ing the texture, which would be fatal to
its usefulness sn1 beauty. Nothing,
however, is permitted to 20 to waste.
Therefuse is carefully calcined, and, when
ground upon marble slab, yields a Jet
black velvety pigment, used by artists to
paint Uncle Toms, broadcloth coats. and
other matters requiring q particularly
jetty hue: Next to- the Chinese. the Gef.
mans excel in ivory carving and orna-
mental work, most of the beautifully
embellished umbrella and cane knobs
being made by them. These, according
to the amount Of work. lavished upon
them, range in price from three to ten
dollars each.
The most beautiful piece of art, we
ever saw was marine landscape in alto
relieUo upon the lid of small ivory box,
and the connoisseur who possessed it;val-
ued it at at five hundred dollars, but
would not dispose of it at any price.
The curiously carved ivory balls which
are brought from china, each containing
several balls within them, and apparently
entire, puzzling the senses to conjecture
how they could possibly be made are not
really entire; but are Joined. SO accurately
as TO-. be imperceptible even under the
glass of microscope. Subjected for a
time, however, TO the action of boiling
water, they separate, and the wonderful
ingenuity of the Cinnamon is revealed.
Ivory is dyed Of various colors by con-
tact with chemicals, though no art has
yet succeeded in imparting color deep-
er than the surface, and this will event
ually wear off. The quantity imported
into England last year, foots up about
5000 tens, and into the port of Salem
about 250, 900 pounds. ~ 9, ..,.-.-
In the business of the ivory dealer may
also be included the manufactures of box
wood, hgnum vitae, and other hard W oods,
which are to a greater or less degree sub
stitutes for the former. The nearest re-
semblance that any article bears to ivory,
is found in the ivory nut, a vegetable, pro-
duction of South America. These are
much like horse chesnut in appearance,
but about twice their size, and when
turned into articles Of fancy or ornament,
are exceeding clear, and of an alabaster
appearance. They do not wear, howev-
er, are brittle, and soon become discolor-
ed and Opaque. They may be seen in the
form of infants rings, needle boxes, &C.,
in any of the fancy stores.