Ivory objects from different animals

Ivory objects in the museum

Click on the + icons to find out more about the different animals used to make ivory objects in the museum. The map on the walrus shows where the different animals live.

KEY

Mammoth

Narwhal

Walrus

Boar

Elephant

Hippo

Sperm Whale

Wild Boar Wild boar are found across Europe, the north coast of Africa, and all the way to China, and the island of Papua New Guinea. Necklace made from two boar’s tusks from Papua New Guinea.This is on display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1895.43.21. In Papua New Guinea necklaces made from boar tusks were worn by male warriors to show that they were powerful and fierce like boars. What animal would you like to be linked with and why?

Narwhal Narwhals are found in the cold north seas of North America, Greenland and across the Arctic. Narwhals are known as unicorns of the sea as they have a single, spiral tusk. In the Arctic ivory used to be more available than wood as trees struggle to grow in very cold places. In the past Inuit people used every part of an animal to make objects from, including their tusks and teeth. Inuit communities in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland are allowed to hunt a certain amount of narwhals and walrus each year. They use the animals for food and make objects from ivory and bone as part of the sustainable use of these animals in Arctic waters. Spear made from a narwhal tusk by Inuit people, Canada. PRM1884.20.5. A narwhal tusk has been used to make a hunting spear by Inuit people. What else might this narwhal tusk have been used for?

Walrus Walrus are found across the Arctic seas and coastlines of northernmost countries of the world. They are adapted for living in cold regions, and have two large tusks. In the Arctic ivory used to be more available than wood as trees struggle to grow in very cold places. In the past Inuit people used every part of an animal to make objects from, including their tusks and teeth. Inuit communities in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland are allowed to hunt a certain amount of narwhals and walrus each year. They use the animals for food and make objects from ivory and bone as part of the sustainable use of these animals in Arctic waters. Sledge runner made from large walrus tusk by Inuit people, Canada.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1902.46.33.Why do you think Inuit people used walrus tusks to make runners for their sledges? Harpoon with a polar bear head carved from walrus ivory, made by the Western Inuit, Alaska.On display on the second floor of the museum. PRM1884.20.13. This harpoon would have been used to hunt fish, seals and whales by Inuit people. Take a closer look at the carving - can you see the eyes and ears of a polar bear face shown in the detail of the end of the harpoon, in the blue circle above?Why might a polar bear have been carved on the harpoon?

Hippo Hippos are found across the African continent, especially in the lakes and rivers of in West Africa in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, The Gambia and the northern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in East Africa, in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, and further south in the contintent, in South Africa. . Armlet made from hippo ivory by the Kamba people, Kenya This is on display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1925.70.11 Look closely - can you see how this bracelet is made of three separate parts carefully fixed together? This bracelet made from hippo ivory was worn by the Kamba people to show that someone was wealthy and a good hunter. What else might someone wear to show they are wealthy or brave?

Elephants Elephants are found across Africa and Asia. Armlet made from elephant ivory by the Batanga people, West Africa. On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.130. Armlets made from elephant ivory were often worn in West and Central African communities to show that someone was important. What other things can you think of that people wear on their arms? To find out more about elephant ivory in the museum, check out the Elephant Ivory trail and resources.

Mammoths Mammoths are now extinct but their tusks keep on appearing in the Arctic as the permafrost melts due to global warming. This means that mammoth tusk is now commonly carved and no animal dies in the process! Scoop made from mammoth ivory by Inuit people, North America.On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1914.79.1. Ivory is a tough material which lasts a long time – mammals need their teeth and tusks to be strong for eating, digging, and fighting. Many everyday objects were made from ivory in the Arctic as Inuit people knew this material would last. What other materials could you use that is tough and lasts a long time?

Sperm Whale Sperm whales live in the oceans. Can you see the teeth inside its mouth in the drawing above? Not all whales have teeth, but sperm whales do, and these have been used by people to make things. Necklace made from sperm whale’s teeth from Fiji.On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.10.54. On the Pacific island of Fiji, only a chief can wear a tooth necklace on special occasions. Think of leaders in your own community – Queens, Kings, headteachers! What do they wear at special occasions?

African Forest Elephant Elephants are endangered as they have been killed for their ivory tusks over many years. Tusks are special teeth that grow throughout an elephant’s life. The use of elephant ivory as a raw material for everyday objects around the world, and the hunting with guns, led to the steep drop in elephant numbers from the 19th century. Since 1990 there has been a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory and conservation projects have been set up to help protect elephants. In many West and Central African communities, elephant hunters were highly respected and skilled. Every part of the elephant was used: hair for brushes, skin for baskets, and meat for food. Negbanzi (trumpet) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.7.038. In West and Central African communities, trumpets made from elephant tusks were skilfully carved and played at special occasions. The trumpets linked ceremonies to this great creature and its powerful sound. Can you think of any other musical instruments that are played at special occassions? Armlet from Nigeria, made from African elephant ivory with silver pins.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.127. In Nigeria, armlets made from elephant ivory were worn to show someone was important.What might a leader wear now to show they are important?

African Forest Elephant Elephants are endangered as they have been killed for their ivory tusks over many years. Tusks are special teeth that grow throughout an elephant’s life. The use of elephant ivory as a raw material for everyday objects around the world, and the hunting with guns, led to the steep drop in elephant numbers from the 19th century. Since 1990 there has been a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory and conservation projects have been set up to help protect elephants. In many West and Central African communities, elephant hunters were highly respected and skilled. Every part of the elephant was used: hair for brushes, skin for baskets, and meat for food. Negbanzi (trumpet) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.7.038. In West and Central African communities, trumpets made from elephant tusks were skilfully carved and played at special occasions. The trumpets linked ceremonies to this great creature and its powerful sound. Can you think of any other musical instruments that are played at special occassions? Armlet from Nigeria, made from African elephant ivory with silver pins.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.127. In Nigeria, armlets made from elephant ivory were worn to show someone was important.What might a leader wear now to show they are important?

African Forest Elephant Elephants are endangered as they have been killed for their ivory tusks over many years. Tusks are special teeth that grow throughout an elephant’s life. The use of elephant ivory as a raw material for everyday objects around the world, and the hunting with guns, led to the steep drop in elephant numbers from the 19th century. Since 1990 there has been a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory and conservation projects have been set up to help protect elephants. In many West and Central African communities, elephant hunters were highly respected and skilled. Every part of the elephant was used: hair for brushes, skin for baskets, and meat for food. Negbanzi (trumpet) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.7.038. In West and Central African communities, trumpets made from elephant tusks were skilfully carved and played at special occasions. The trumpets linked ceremonies to this great creature and its powerful sound. Can you think of any other musical instruments that are played at special occassions? Armlet from Nigeria, made from African elephant ivory with silver pins.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.127. In Nigeria, armlets made from elephant ivory were worn to show someone was important.What might a leader wear now to show they are important?

African Forest Elephant Elephants are endangered as they have been killed for their ivory tusks over many years. Tusks are special teeth that grow throughout an elephant’s life. The use of elephant ivory as a raw material for everyday objects around the world, and the hunting with guns, led to the steep drop in elephant numbers from the 19th century. Since 1990 there has been a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory and conservation projects have been set up to help protect elephants. In many West and Central African communities, elephant hunters were highly respected and skilled. Every part of the elephant was used: hair for brushes, skin for baskets, and meat for food. Negbanzi (trumpet) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.7.038. In West and Central African communities, trumpets made from elephant tusks were skilfully carved and played at special occasions. The trumpets linked ceremonies to this great creature and its powerful sound. Can you think of any other musical instruments that are played at special occassions? Armlet from Nigeria, made from African elephant ivory with silver pins.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.127. In Nigeria, armlets made from elephant ivory were worn to show someone was important.What might a leader wear now to show they are important?

African Forest Elephant Elephants are endangered as they have been killed for their ivory tusks over many years. Tusks are special teeth that grow throughout an elephant’s life. The use of elephant ivory as a raw material for everyday objects around the world, and the hunting with guns, led to the steep drop in elephant numbers from the 19th century. Since 1990 there has been a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory and conservation projects have been set up to help protect elephants. In many West and Central African communities, elephant hunters were highly respected and skilled. Every part of the elephant was used: hair for brushes, skin for baskets, and meat for food. Negbanzi (trumpet) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.7.038. In West and Central African communities, trumpets made from elephant tusks were skilfully carved and played at special occasions. The trumpets linked ceremonies to this great creature and its powerful sound. Can you think of any other musical instruments that are played at special occassions? Armlet from Nigeria, made from African elephant ivory with silver pins.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.127. In Nigeria, armlets made from elephant ivory were worn to show someone was important.What might a leader wear now to show they are important?

African Forest Elephant Elephants are endangered as they have been killed for their ivory tusks over many years. Tusks are special teeth that grow throughout an elephant’s life. The use of elephant ivory as a raw material for everyday objects around the world, and the hunting with guns, led to the steep drop in elephant numbers from the 19th century. Since 1990 there has been a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory and conservation projects have been set up to help protect elephants. In many West and Central African communities, elephant hunters were highly respected and skilled. Every part of the elephant was used: hair for brushes, skin for baskets, and meat for food. Negbanzi (trumpet) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.7.038. In West and Central African communities, trumpets made from elephant tusks were skilfully carved and played at special occasions. The trumpets linked ceremonies to this great creature and its powerful sound. Can you think of any other musical instruments that are played at special occassions? Armlet from Nigeria, made from African elephant ivory with silver pins.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.127. In Nigeria, armlets made from elephant ivory were worn to show someone was important.What might a leader wear now to show they are important?

African Forest Elephant Elephants are endangered as they have been killed for their ivory tusks over many years. Tusks are special teeth that grow throughout an elephant’s life. The use of elephant ivory as a raw material for everyday objects around the world, and the hunting with guns, led to the steep drop in elephant numbers from the 19th century. Since 1990 there has been a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory and conservation projects have been set up to help protect elephants. In many West and Central African communities, elephant hunters were highly respected and skilled. Every part of the elephant was used: hair for brushes, skin for baskets, and meat for food. Negbanzi (trumpet) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On display on the ground floor of the museum. PRM1940.7.038. In West and Central African communities, trumpets made from elephant tusks were skilfully carved and played at special occasions. The trumpets linked ceremonies to this great creature and its powerful sound. Can you think of any other musical instruments that are played at special occassions? Armlet from Nigeria, made from African elephant ivory with silver pins.On display on the first floor of the museum. PRM1884.82.127. In Nigeria, armlets made from elephant ivory were worn to show someone was important.What might a leader wear now to show they are important?