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Why is ivory especially suitable for delicate African sculpture?
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ivory carving
Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.
Ivory is especially suitable for delicate African sculpture primarily due to its physical properties. It is a dense, hard material that possesses a fine texture, which allows artists to execute intricate, detailed carvings and achieve a high polish.123
Because of these qualities, the material invites virtuosity, enabling sculptors to create refined works that would be difficult to achieve in other media. In many African societies, ivory is also highly prized for its rarity, leading to its use in creating objects of significant prestige. While ivory is durable and resistant to damage, its fine grain and smooth texture remain its defining characteristics for artistic application.2314