BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES AND THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE A LOT OF VARIATION IN THE FORM. THE FIRST EXAMPLE AND SEVERAL OTHERS REMIND ME OF THE PINEAPPLE PATTERN.
TWO PICTURES OF SPERM WHALE TOOTH BASES. THE NATURAL BASE HAS A SHARP THIN SKIRT AND IS VERY PRONE TO START CRACKS WHEN THE TOOTH DRYS OUT. AN EXAMPLE OF A VICTORIAN SCRIMSHAWED TOOTH WITH THE SKIRT REMOVED AS IS USUAL FOR THE PERIOD. NOTE THE PATINA AND NUMBER OF CRACKS. PERHAPS IVORY HILTS ARE OILED ALONG WITH KERIS BLADES THUS PREVENTING SERIOUS CRACKS. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP ALL IVORY LIGHTLY OILED AND MARINE IVORY IS ESPECIALLY PRONE TO DRYING OUT AND CRACKING IN DRY ENVIRONMENTS.
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