Types of Animal Materials

The objects we will look at are made from: animal skin, shell, coral and elephant tusks.

Ivory

A tusk is an extremely long tooth of certain animals that sticks out when the mouth is closed. Tusk-bearing mammals include elephants and walruses. When a tusk is polished and carved it is called ivory which can be used in art, jewellery, and until recently piano keys. Since most tusk-bearing mammals are endangered (especially the African elephant), the use of ivory is severely restricted.

 

Coral

Coral is another animal product that has been used by artists for hundreds of years. Corals are rock-like marine animals that live in large groups in warm seas. The most famous coral area is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia but there are colonies in other places including the Mediterranean. Fishermen and divers would compete to collect the finest coral and artists would pay high prices for interesting pieces.

 

 

Mother-of-Pearl

Another type of shell used by artists is mother-of-pearl. Mother-of-pearl is the multicoloured layers of calcium carbonate inside the shells of sea creatures. The layers act like a prism and reflect light to create a wonderful decorative material.

 

Tortoiseshell

Often the whole shell of an animal would be used by artists. For example tortoise and turtle shells were often decorated to create wonderful bowls, particularly in Italy in the 18th Century.

 

 

Skin

For thousands of years the outer skin or hide of animals has also been used by craftsmen and artists to make many items. The skin is made into leather, but also fur, rawhide, snakeskin.

Scientists believe that prehistoric humans used animal hides as clothing and to make shelters. Native Americans used animal hides to build tepees and wigwams and the Arctic populations used this material for waterproof clothes and kayaks as well as for their houses. Today only certain animal skins are used, very often for clothing.