Where are Animal Materials from?

From earliest times man has used animal materials. Bones from animals were used to make very useful tools, such as fishing hooks. But bone was also decorated with important symbols to become works of art.

Animal blood, skin, bone, horn, tusks, feathers, teeth, hair and wool have all been used as art materials as have shells, pearl and corals from the sea. Even elephant dung has been used to create art. Phew, don’t try that at home!

The materials used can often tell us where the artwork came from and when it was made. For example this wonderful grand box or coffer was probably made in Southern Italy where a type of shell called mother-of-pearl was easily found and popular in the 17th Century.