By Antiques & Old World Charms

 

The translucence, hardness and subtle color shades of ivory have tested the carver's virtuosity since prehistoric times and the craft of ivory carvings has been revered ever since. Carved ivories were used for inlaid decoration as well as other objects such as statues, combs, snuff bottles, chest pieces and miniature paintings.

 

The Chinese craftsman made a vast range of objects, from statuettes produced in the Ming Dynasty to o a wide variety of pieces created to the close of the 19th century.

 

The Japanese craftsman displayed their skill in the creation of smaller, everyday items, in particular netsuke depicting subjects from nature such as flowers, insects, reptiles and wild domestic animals. It is the carvings of the everyday figures which provide the most fascinating insights into the life of Old Japan.  By mid 1800s the craftsman began carving items known as the okimono (standing things). The okimono were larger versions of the netsuke, used for table ornaments.

 

A medieval European Ivory included the diptych (a folding, two leaf miniature ivory altarpiece), used by the pilgrims. The holy imagery was carved on the inside, within an ornamental border. The leaves were held together with iron wire threaded through holes on the borders. During the Renaissance carved ivory objects were less popular but re-emerged in the 17th century. Dieppe now became a great centre for ivory work, producing secular as well as religious statues, portrait medallions and utilitarian objects such as snuff boxes.

 

From the early 19th century, ivory began its appeal with Neo-Classical and Art Nouveau , especially favored in France, Germany, and Central Europe.

 

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