Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23
WHY IVORY rs MORE EXPENSIVE
Tusk Buyers in This Country-Work-
ers in the Material Few.
elers' Circular Weekly.

From the Jewellers Circular Weekly.
1t Is curious fact that Notwithstanding
the marked advance in the price OF ivory in
recent years the volume of sales has not
diminished. but has actually increased.
Tusks have been selling In the markets of
London and Antwerp at an advance of
about 20 per cent over the prices charged
a few years ago.
The causes which have led to this ad-
vance In price are very interesting. 1t is
not due to any artificial manipulation of
the markets in the great centers. nor Is 1t
due to increased demand or scarcity Of
elephants. For the cause we must look to
the heart of Africa. where a spirit of gen.
uine commercialism Is manifesting itself
among the natives. Their wealth is In
ivory. and they. have learned to value 1t
as such. Indeed, the wealth of leading
men among the natives was once commonly
counted in tusks.
They would say Of dusky capitalist
Of this kind that he was worth SO many
tusks, just as one in this country would
say that q man Is worth so many dollars.
OF course. that was a natural phase in
the development OF a primitive people. The
red man estimated his riches in wampum
and the Laplander in furs. They often
would part with their possessions for a
few beads or trinkets. They did not know
the value of a dollar. Certainly 1t can no
they do not know the value Of money.
They have learned Thus 1t comes that
the heather in his blindness" is not SO
blind as has been supposed.
Increased transportation facilities and
telegraphic communications have brought
Africa into closer touch with the rest OF
the world 1t is said that native may be
working 1000 miles in the interior and yet
he can quote you the cash value OF tusks
in the Antwerp or London market.
OF course, 1t is a far cry from Africa to
the United States. and yet there is a very
good market for ivory in this country.
Alert and enterprising buyers are always
on the lookout for opportunities to pick up
good tusks. II Bostock or Barnum &
Bailey ever chance to have an elephant
die on their hands in this country. 1t Is
not a dead loss TO them by any means.
1t is likely that an energetic buyer OF ivory
will be bidding for 1t before the carcass Is
cold.
American manufacturers confine them
selves mainly, though not exclusively. to
such workings of ivory as are appropriate
for toilet goods The process of manufac-
ture Is delicate one, requiring consider
able skill. tusk weighing, say, from sew
enty-five to 125 pounds, Is bolted to NOV
ing table, on which it is sawed into plates.
During this stage the tusk has to be kept
thoroughly wet down to prevent burning,
as ivory is very hard and good deal of
heat is generated by the friction.
From these plates or fiat pieces various
rough shapes are sawed out. according to
fected later on. In saving out these shapes
care has to be taken to AVOID spots or
blemshes in the ivory, and at the same
time guard against wasting valuable ma
terial To- be able to do this with good
judgment and discrimination is one test Of
a good workman in ivory, and the number
of men who are competent to do this kind
of work is very limited. Indeed, ivory
working seems to be a select" sort Of
craft into which but few are initiated.