ivory
The hard, creamy-white, opaque, fine-grained,
elastic, modified dentine, that makes up the tusks
of elephants and other (large) land and marine
animals. Ivory has been used as a writing and
decorating medium because of the fineness of its
grain, its warm tone, the ease with which it can
be given a high polish, its adaptability for
writing and carving, and, when properly cared for,
its remarkable durability.
Ivory was used for the covers of books in the
Middle Ages, but not by English bookbinders until
the mania for novelty and commercial advantage led
to its use in about 1860. It has also been used in
the manufacture of superior diptychs, as clasps
for books, and for the folders used in
bookbinding. (102 ,
236 , 280 )
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