28 IVORY AND THE ELEPHAxNT 



perors a bust had taken the place of the eagle, in most cases 

 that of the reigning emperor himself.* The origin of the use 

 of these and similar objects has been traced back to Etruscan 

 royalty. The Tyrrhenian cities, as a sign of submission, 

 sent to Tarquin with other gifts an ivory seat, and one was 

 given by the Roman Senate to Porsenna as a special mark 

 of favour. t 



A strikingly beautiful and artistic specimen of ancient 

 Roman ivory carving was unearthed in the neighbourhood 

 of Vienne (Dept. Isere), France, the site of an old Roman 

 settlement in the Gallic province. It is a finely executed 

 female head, showing all the calm dignity and the purity of 

 outline characteristic of the very best classic sculpture. 

 This valuable carving is now in the Musee de Vienne.| 



There are evidences that ivory was both known and 

 appreciated by the Celts at a very early period, although, 

 because of its relative destructability as compared with 

 amber or glass, but few specimens are now extant. How- 

 ever, both in France and Germany the tumuli of the Hallstat 

 Period, extending down to 500 B. C. and even later, have 

 furnished a few specimens, such as rings and the handles of 

 different toilette articles. Such examples have been un- 

 earthed from the tumuli of Aprimont (Dept. Haute Saone) 

 and from those of Buchheim in Baden. In this connection 

 may also be noted the use of human teeth as part of the 

 adornments of necklaces and of other objects.** 



The most wonderful works of art in which ivory was ever 

 used were unquestionably the colossal chryselephantine, or 



*H. K. E. Kohler, "Serapis," St. Petersburg, 1850, Pt, I, p. 198. 



tDion. Halicar., V, 35. 



J"L'art k I'Exposition Universel de 1900" (Exposition Retrospective), Paris, December, 

 1900, p. 12, Fig. 1. 



**Joseph Dechelette, " Manuel d'Archeologie Prehistorique Celtique et Gallo-Romaine," 

 Paris, 1913, Pt. II, pp. 831, 875; see Figs. 367, p. 874, handle ornaments No. 1 from Buch- 

 heim, Nos. 2, 3, from Apremont. 



