242 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



dry wood to keep the piece circular; the rings are then cut 

 from both ends, the two cuts meeting in the middle.* 



It but very rarely happens that a cross-section of the tusk 

 forms a perfect circle, or is perfectly round, the form gener- 

 ally approximating an ellipse. The tusks are hollow for 

 about one half of their length, the thickness of the solid 

 part growing gradually greater until the tusk becomes a 

 solid mass. The degree of curvature varies much, some 

 tusks forming an almost perfect semi-circle, while others 

 barely constitute the sixth part of a circle. Usually the 

 curve is in one direction only, but very occasionally it is in 

 two directions.! 



If properly executed, turned-work ought not to need 

 much polishing. For this emery paper or fine glass paper 

 may be used, after which the surface can be rubbed with a 

 mixture of whiting and water applied with a bit of very 

 thin wash leather; the surface should then be cleaned with 

 clear water. Finally, a very little oil may be applied. J 

 To attach ivory to ivory or to wood a preparation of isin- 

 glass, sometimes called "diamond cement," is often em- 

 ployed. 



To scrub ivory with Trent sand (a very fine sand) and 

 water serves to rub away the old surface, and this would be 

 likely to do considerable injury to any finely carved work. 

 The best means of preserving the original colour has been 

 found to be exposure to the light under a glass shade.** 



A noted ivory worker of Copenhagen, Spangler, made the 

 discovery that ivory objects would retain their whiteness 

 indefinitely if placed under glass, to protect them from the 

 air, and freely exposed to the effects of light. The present 



*Holtzapffel, op. cit.. Vol. I, p. 147, 149, 151. 

 tHoltzapffel, op. cit., Vol. I, pp. 142, 144. 

 IHoltzapffel, op. cit., Vol. Ill, p. 1067; Vol. I, p. 154. 

 **Holtzapffel, op. cit.. Vol. I, p. 153. 



