Ivory has been valued since ancient times in art or manufacturing for making a range of items from ivory carvings to false teeth, piano keys, fans, dominoes[2] and joint tubes.[3] Elephant ivory is the most important source, but ivory from mammoth, walrus, hippopotamus, sperm whale, killer whale, narwhal and warthog are used as well.[4][5] Elk also have two ivory teeth, which are believed to be the remnants of tusks from their ancestors.[6]
The national and international trade in ivory of threatened species such as African and Asian elephants is illegal.[7] The word ivory ultimately derives from the ancient Egyptian âb, âbu (“elephant”), through the Latin ebor- or ebur.
The upper and lower canines of the hippopotamus are the prime targets for those looking to collect ivory for the commercial trade. Hippo ivory is often higher valued on the market due to the fact that it does not yellow with age like other ivories. Though it is widely believed that the first US president George Washington’s false teeth were carved from wood, they were actually carved from hippo ivory.
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