ivory
Enable an agent to recognise ivory as a biological material, assess its identity and condition, and determine which handling, conservation, analysis or transfer actions require further evidence.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise ivory as a biological material, assess its identity and condition, and determine which handling, conservation, analysis or transfer actions require further evidence.
Ivory is the hard, predominantly dentine material obtained from certain mammalian tusks or enlarged teeth, consisting of a mineralized collagen matrix and traditionally valued for carving and manufacture.
It can be Compare candidate ivory with tooth-derived materials and likely substitutes using documented identification methods.; Map ivory components, structural orientation, treatments and damage on a specimen.; Track condition alongside storage, display and transport exposures.; Select a conservation or sampling approach suited to the material evidence and permitted loss.; Assemble source, chronology and custody evidence for an action-specific review.; Refer unresolved identification or transfer questions to an appropriate specialist..
Distinguishing features
Establish whether the candidate is tooth-derived dentine rather than bone, antler, shell, plant material or manufactured imitation; appearance alone leaves identity unresolved.
Record whether visible tissue architecture supports a source attribution, which surface and orientation were examined, and which alternatives remain possible.
Distinguish an ivory component from an entire object: ivory identification applies only to the examined material unless further components are verified.
Separate observed biological identity from commercial names, seller descriptions and documentary claims.
Distinguish source age, carving date and acquisition date; none should silently substitute for another.
Scope
+ Tooth- or tusk-derived ivory and uncertainty about its biological source
+ Material composition, internal structure and identification evidence
+ Raw, cut, carved, treated and composite-associated ivory material
+ Condition, environmental exposure and suitability for conservation or analysis
+ Source history and evidence needed to assess restrictions on particular actions
- Ivory as a colour name
- Source animals as organisms, populations or ecosystems
- Whole artworks, musical instruments and other products containing ivory
- Bone, antler, vegetable ivory and synthetic substitutes as materials in their own right
- Wildlife trafficking networks and enforcement institutions
- Dental tissue in a living animal as a clinical subject
Characteristics
- Material identification
- ivory supported | non-ivory supported | indeterminate; method and confidence attached Prevents visual resemblance or a trade label from becoming an unsupported material identification.
- Biological source attribution
- candidate taxon and tooth or tusk type, with evidence and confidence Source attribution informs comparison, interpretation and the questions required before transfer.
- Material composition and treatment
- identified tissue constituents, coatings, consolidants, stains, fillers and contaminants; unknown permitted Treatments and additional materials can change identification results and conservation choices.
- Structural orientation
- longitudinal | transverse | oblique | unresolved, relative to tooth or tusk growth Makes surface observations and comparisons interpretable.
- Specimen dimensions and mass
- dimensions in mm; mass in g; measurement date and component boundary Supports specimen matching, material accounting and monitoring of loss.
- Condition
- mapped cracks, separation, losses, powdering, staining and surface changes, with severity and observation date Connects treatment decisions to observed damage and its progression.
- Environmental exposure
- temperature in °C; relative humidity in %; light exposure where measured; duration and variation Allows changes in condition to be examined against storage, display and transport history.
- Chronological attribution
- separate source-age, working-date and acquisition-date claims, each with evidence and uncertainty Avoids treating an old material as proof of an old carving or documented acquisition.
- Action-specific determination
- unassessed | evidence incomplete | permitted | restricted | prohibited, tied to action, jurisdiction, date and authority Prevents a permission recorded for one activity or location from being reused without checking its scope.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.ivory
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 17 findings · 27 questions.
Ivory identity Establish what material is present and how narrowly its biological source can be identified.
The ivory label must be supported independently of colour, object type and commercial description.
Dentine boundary
Separate ivory from adjacent biological materials and manufactured substitutes.
Material identification evidence
Record observations and analyses supporting or challenging identification as tooth- or tusk-derived dentine.
- What evidence identifies this material as dentine rather than bone, antler, plant material or a manufactured imitation? definition
- Which regions or components were examined, and where does the identification remain unverified? boundary
Biological attribution
Record source-animal and anatomical attribution without exceeding the evidence.
Source diagnostic features
Connect candidate taxa and tooth types to observed features, examination methods and unresolved alternatives.
- Which tooth or tusk structures support the proposed animal source, and which competing sources remain plausible? definition
- Were features such as Schreger patterns examined on an appropriate exposed surface, and what validated limits apply to their interpretation? measurement
Ivory structure and treatment Describe the tissue arrangement and modifications that affect interpretation and use.
Ivory needs a biological material description rather than an assumed pure-substance identity or uniform commercial grade.
Tissue and orientation
Locate dentine, associated tissues and structural directions within the material boundary.
Structural material map
Record exposed sections, growth orientation, internal cavities and any associated tooth tissues.
- Which parts are dentine, which contain other tooth tissues, and where are cavities or interfaces present? boundary
- How are the examined surfaces and existing cracks oriented relative to the tooth or tusk structure? measurement
Added and altered material
Distinguish the underlying ivory from treatments, repairs and alteration.
Treatment composition record
Identify known or suspected coatings, dyes, adhesives, fillers and other changes that qualify material observations.
- What evidence identifies bleaching, staining, coating, impregnation, repair or burial-related alteration? provenance
- Which measured properties or identification results could be influenced by those alterations? measurement
Ivory condition Assess material integrity and relate observed changes to environmental history.
Handling and conservation decisions require specimen-specific evidence about cracking, surfaces and exposure.
Damage and change
Distinguish stable features, historical damage and changes observed over time.
Ivory damage map
Locate cracks, separation, losses and surface changes using repeatable observations.
- Where are cracks, separation, powdering or losses, and what are their measured extent and severity? measurement
- Which features have changed between dated observations, and which may reflect original anatomy or working? boundary
Exposure and support
Connect environmental records and physical support to the condition of the ivory.
Condition exposure assessment
Record humidity, temperature, light, wetting and mounting history relevant to observed deterioration.
- What environmental fluctuations, wetting events or mounting stresses preceded the observed changes? provenance
- What specimen-specific evidence supports the proposed storage, display or transport conditions? action
Ivory origin and controls Separate origin and age claims from the evidence needed to evaluate a particular action.
Biological identification, chronology and documentary history must remain distinct when assessing whether ivory may be moved or transferred.
Origin and chronology
Track biological origin, recovery, working and custody as separate claims.
Dated source and custody
Associate each origin or date claim with specimen-linked evidence and explicit gaps.
- What independently supports the claimed animal source, geographic origin and recovery circumstances? provenance
- What separately supports source age, carving date and acquisition date, and how is each record linked to this specimen? provenance
Action-specific controls
Evaluate applicable requirements for a named activity, place and date.
Ivory action evidence
Record authoritative requirements and the evidence establishing whether this specimen satisfies them.
- For the proposed possession, sale, donation, sampling or cross-border movement, which current authorities and jurisdictions govern this ivory? action
- Which identity, age, provenance and permit claims are required, and which remain unverified? boundary
Ivory intervention Choose and document conservation, examination and sampling actions appropriate to the specimen.
Interventions can consume diagnostic material or alter surfaces needed for later identification and interpretation.
Conservation compatibility
Assess proposed cleaning, joining and stabilisation against the ivory's condition and treatment history.
Treatment decision
Connect a proposed intervention to its objective, compatibility evidence and stopping criteria.
- How could the proposed cleaning or stabilisation affect cracks, stains, coatings and diagnostic surface features? action
- What examination or limited trial supports proceeding, and what observed response requires stopping? action
Diagnostic sampling
Plan analysis around an explicit identification or chronology question and a defined material-loss allowance.
Sampling and interpretation
Record sample location, quantity, contamination concerns, authorisation and limits on the resulting conclusion.
- Which unresolved source or age question requires analysis, and can examination without sampling answer it? action
- If sampling is justified and authorised, what location and mass are needed, and how will treatments or contamination affect interpretation? measurement
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- This describes ivory as a biological material, not the colour called ivory; composition and properties vary with species, tooth region and preservation.
- No universal chemical identifier or numerical property range is supplied because ivory is a variable biological composite rather than a pure substance.
- Regulatory references are recalled, not checked; current restrictions and exemptions require verification for the species, provenance, object and jurisdictions involved.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of ivory this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Elephant ivory
- Mammoth ivory
- Walrus ivory
- Hippopotamus ivory
- Sperm whale ivory
- Narwhal ivory
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of ivory this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): international trade controls depend on the source species, listing and applicable provisions.
- European Union wildlife trade regulations: Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 establishes controls relevant to ivory from listed species.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of ivory this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Carved sculpture, religious objects and decorative inlays.
- Historically, piano key coverings and other musical instrument components.
- Historically, billiard balls, handles and small manufactured fittings.
- Museum conservation and research on historical objects.
- Forensic examination to identify biological origin and investigate wildlife trafficking.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of ivory this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Changes in relative humidity can cause dimensional movement, cracking and splitting.
- Heat and excessive drying can promote cracking and deformation.
- Light exposure and contamination can alter surface colour.
- Acids attack the mineral component; inappropriate cleaning can damage the surface and organic matrix.
- Demand for elephant ivory can drive poaching, population decline and illegal trade.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of ivory this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Domestic possession, sale, import and export rules differ between jurisdictions and can be stricter than CITES requirements.
- Treatment of antique objects, worked ivory and musical instruments depends on jurisdiction and documented provenance.
- Mammoth ivory can receive different legal treatment from elephant ivory, but identification and local restrictions require checking.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of ivory this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Dentine - Dentine is a dental tissue found broadly in vertebrate teeth; ivory denotes material from particular mammalian teeth or tusks.
- Bone - Bone is skeletal tissue with a different microscopic organization; ivory is predominantly dental dentine.
- Horn - The horn material commonly worked into objects is predominantly keratin, whereas ivory is mineralized dental tissue.
- Tooth enamel - Enamel is the highly mineralized outer covering of tooth crowns, distinct from the dentine that constitutes most ivory.
- Vegetable ivory - Vegetable ivory is hard palm-seed endosperm, such as tagua, rather than animal dental material.
- Imitation ivory - Imitation ivory reproduces ivory's appearance using materials such as polymers or composites without being tusk or tooth dentine.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of ivory this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Which tooth-derived materials does this registry intend the term ivory to include, particularly non-elephant and fossil material?
- Which identification methods and diagnostic criteria are sufficiently validated for each candidate animal source and specimen condition?
- Which conservation evidence supports environmental targets and treatment compatibility for untreated, altered and fossil ivory?
- What evidence can distinguish biological age from manufacture and acquisition dates for the specimen types this model will cover?
- Which jurisdiction-specific authorities and documentation requirements must be consulted for each proposed activity involving ivory?