Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-11-20
IVORY.

States comes from Zanzibar, In A
! RIGA, TO the port of Salem; and thi
| is all large-a lot Of $4,000 pound
which we saw averaging eighty pound
, to the tusk. 1t has been conjectul
ed that eventually the supply woul
be stopped, on account of the extinc
Z tion of the animal; but this, We ar
informed by those conversant wit
the subject, is not probable, as larg
quantities are brought from the un
explored interior Of Africa by th,
natives, and sold to traders on th,
coast, of which, part is obtained
from animals that have died natu
rally; and the elephant is too large
game to be seriously affected by the
weapons of the savages. The deal.
ers can readily discern by tie appear
ance of the tooth whether it was ia.
ken from a freshly slain animal OF
not. Some of them, broken and
mutilated, give evidence ofthe dead
ly encounters their proprietors have
had in their native juDgles, while
others are gnawed by African rats,
probably, for the teeth. marks are
large and deep incisions.
The English traders, owing to
their superior facilities, have the mo.
nopoly of the market in India and
Africa, and the choicest articles can
be obtained from them. In price it
varies from 75c to 81 rs per pound
net, which are the extremes for cor
responding qualities. Within FIVE
years past, owing to its extended ap-
preparation to purposes of art and
luxury, it 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 destroying the texture. which
would be fatal to its usefulness and
beauty. Nothing, however, is per-
nitted to 60 to waste. The refuse
is carefully calcined, and. when
ground upon a marble slab, yields
jet-black velvety pigment used by
artists to paint "Uncle Toms"
broadeloth coats, and other matters,
requiring particularly jetty hue.
Next to the Chinese, the Germans
excel in ivory carving and orDamen-
tai work. most Of the beautifully
embellished umbrella and cane knobs
being made by them. These accor-
ding TO the amount of work lavished
upon them, range in price from So
to $40 each.
The most beautiful piece of art we
ever saw was marine landscape, in
alto rele0o, upon the lid of small
ivory box, and the connoisseur who
possessed it valued irat $500, but
would not dispose Of itat 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 en-
tire; but are Joined so accurately as
to be imperceptiblc, even under the
glass of a microscope. Subjected for
"a time, however, to the action Of boil
ing water, they separate, and the
wonderful ingenuity Of the Chinaman
is revealed.
Ivory is dyed Of various colors BY
contact with chemicals, though no
art has yet succeeded in imparting
a color deeper than the surface, and
this will eventually wear off. The
quantity imported into England, last
year, foots up about 6OOO tons, and
into the port of Salem about 25O,-
600 pounds
To the business Of the ivory dealer
may also be included the manufac-
lures OF lockwood, lignum vitae, and
other hard woods, which are, to a
greater or less degree, substitutes for
the former. The nearest resem-
blance that any article bears to ivory
is found in the "ivory nut" a veget-
able production of South America.
These are muchlike a horse-cbestnut
in appearance, but about twice their
size, and when turned into articles
of fancy or ornament, are exceeding
ly clear, and ofan alabaster appear
ance. They do not wear, however,
are brittle, and soon become discol-
ored and opaqe. They may be seen
10 the form of infants rings, needle
boxes, ETC., ID the fancy stores.