How did machine tools affect western ivory carving in the 20th century?

In the 20th century, the introduction of machine-driven tools significantly altered Western ivory carving, contributing to a decline in the art form's aesthetic value. While these technologies—such as power-driven rotary saws for cutting and peeling, and dental drills for carving—allowed for greater technical ease and speed, their adoption coincided with the decay of unified stylistic traditions.12

By the 20th century, the combination of these machine tools and the loss of traditional artistic standards meant that Western ivory carving largely degenerated into a craft that, despite retaining technical sophistication, was considered almost entirely lacking in aesthetic worth. This shift mirrored a broader trend seen in other regions, such as Japan, where the use of machine tools for mass production by the turn of the century similarly destroyed the remaining elements of the art.13