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Ivory and bone are very similar in chemical make-up, but their physical structure is quite different. Ivory has long been appreciated for its tactile surface and adaptability to carving, especially in miniature.
Ivory is quite strong, but may break if dropped on a hard surface. Utilising specialist conservation techniques, Farcroft can realign and bond detached pieces. Where elements of a carving are missing, new pieces can be carved using reclaimed ivory.
Ivory/Bone Sculptures and Artifacts Cleaning, Restoration and Conservation.
Ivory origins, structure and properties, histological and physico-chemical. It is different types of ivory: hippo teeth, red deer antler, whale tooth, vegetable ivory and imitations. Bleaching, softening and dyeing procedures, and assembly suitable for ivory. The deterioration factors resulting changes in the ivory includes temperature, RH, anisotropy and yellowing, alteration of histological structure and of colour in archaeological ivory.
Ivory is very reactive to its environment. It bleaches when exposed to light but the most severe changes are linked to changes in relative humidity and temperature. Low relative humidity causes desiccation, shrinkage and cracking, while high relative humidity can cause warping and swelling. Heat fluctuations induce similar expansion and contraction. These problems are particularly acute with thin ivory objects, such as miniatures.
Cracking can be restored to appeal visually and preserve the piece structurally. As specialists in "invisible" and "museum quality" Art Restore USA , we have replicated missing ivory elements for numerous works. Such work is done either from synthetic material or from real ivory, as requested by the customer.
Click on thumbnail to view next image Before and After treatments.
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