How To Paint On Mammoth Ivory
Tracing the history and origin of Woolly mammoths is interesting. Mammoths spread in Europe, America and Asia due to the landmass in Bearing Sea which was used to connect different continents. About 10,000 years ago, mammoths and early man existed together. The pieces that are put in the commercial market are either odd pieces, pieces of tusks or even complete tusks that are readily bought. Smaller pieces and chips are rejected for use by artists and sculptures are used by manufacturers who make piano keys and small jewelry items. Many pieces of mammoth ivory chips are used to create small decorative pieces and handles of guns, knives and coasters.
Tracing the history and origin of Woolly mammoths is interesting. This species of Mammoths originated about 50 million years ago in Africa. Dinosaurs had become extinct about 10 million years ago and the closest descendants are the modern elephants. Mammoths spread in Europe, America and Asia due to the landmass in Bearing Sea which was used to connect different continents. Migration and spread of these huge shaggy beasts spread over all the continents and the remains are uncovered in Asia and upper regions of Europe.
About 10,000 years ago, mammoths and early man existed together. Archaeological evidence shows that Woolly mammoths were butchered and men relished its flesh and chopped the ivory for making a framework for their dwellings and utility items for its durability and hardness. There are many figurines of animals and humans that Early man crafted whether for religious or as a hobby is not known.
The mammoths got buried and were preserved as they were frozen in the icy land mass of Siberia and Alaska. The frozen remains surface up when the permafrost melts and traders are able to cut away the ivory for various purposes. Many expeditions are led each summer and statistics have shown that every season about 1 to 2 tons of mammoth ivory are harvested.
The pieces that are put in the commercial market are either odd pieces, pieces of tusks or even complete tusks that are readily bought. The raw cut tusks are brownish in color and are sliced into fine sheets. These pieces undergo different process to be available to artists to be painted. Smaller pieces and chips are rejected for use by artists and sculptures are used by manufacturers who make piano keys and small jewelry items. Many pieces of mammoth ivory chips are used to create small decorative pieces and handles of guns, knives and coasters.
Watercolors are the preferred medium to use on this material as it enhances the natural translucence. Before painting, ivory can be kept in constant temperature and relative humidity, in a dark room covered in a soft material. These mammoth ivory procurers make these thin sheets ready for the artist to paint on with even the side marked that has to be painted with a small cross. These thin sheets are either rectangular or oval shaped. Different shaped sheets are higher in price due to extra wastage while cutting. Artists all over the world value these pieces and handcraft beautiful paintings on it.
Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Mammoth Ivory to Porcelain and Netsuke.