|
Slices of Vegetable Ivory dyed in natural colours. The colours of these earrings are tonal shades.
Vegetable Ivory (Tagua Ivory) - What is it?
Vegetable Ivory is a seed (tagua nut) obtained from a palm tree called Hyphaene Phytelephas found in the Amazonian rain forest. It is the only 100% sustainable alternative for elephant ivory given that its colour and hardness are extremely similar to ivory.
By buying vegetable ivory products you are helping to stimulate economies in South America, providing an alternative to cutting down rain forest for farming, and preventing elephants from being killed for their tusks.
Before it can be worked,the seeds must be allowed to dry naturally to gain the hardness required to be carved. Consequently, the older the seed the more valuable it becomes.
|
