Ivory and related materials
Strictly, usage demands that the term 'ivory' be reserved for the dentine of elephant tusks alone; but somewhat looser definition, encompassing the dentine of other large mammals - hippopotamus, walrus, sperm whale - is gaining acceptance.(Krzyszkowska/Morkot 2000: 320)
There are no detailed studies on the material. Many objects described as ivory might be in reality bone: this applies to much of the material of objects in the Petrie Museum. Bone and ivory are often used for small tools and cosmetic objects. In Pre- and Early Dynastic Egypt small figures and other objects are also often produced in ivory and bone.
(click on the images for galleries and more information on each period: for the Early Dynastic examples the archaeological context is given)
Naqada period
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Early Dynastic Egypt
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In the New Kingdom (about 1550-1069 BC) bone and ivory become a popular material for luxury cosmetic objects. In the Roman and Byzantine Periods bone was again very popular and treated as cheap substitute for ivory.
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