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This cigar holder/divot tool is made from the most unique portion of a Mammoth Tusk, the very outer part called the bark. This is the portion of the tusk that has been in direct contact with the soil for tens of thousands of years, picking up the trace minerals which give each individual Mammoth tusk its own unique character. The blue/black coloring of this piece is the result of an iron phosphate called Vivianite.
In the dark brown portion of the cradle area you can see the cross-hatched pattern of lines known as Schreger Lines, named after Bernard Schreger who first wrote about them in 1800. These lines are formed as successive cone-shaped layers of ivory are added as the tusk grows in length. Schreger Lines are produced only in Elephant and Mammoth Ivory and are one of the ways to distinguish real ivory from fake. In addition, Elephant and Mammoth ivories can be distinguished from each other by measuring their outer angles. In Mammoth tusk ivory this outer angle is always acute (less than 90 degrees) while in Elephant ivory this angle is always obtuse (about 115 degrees). This fact takes on a much larger significance in the world of international trade, however, because the international sale of Elephant Tusk Ivory has been banned by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) since 1973. The CITES rules prohibit not only the sale of Elephant Ivory, but even its travel across international borders. Mammoth Tusk Ivory, on the other hand, has no such restrictions and is free to cross any international borders, an important thing to know should you happen to be detained by customs agents during travel.
Mammoth Tusk Ivory is a wonderfully unique material that feels warm to the touch and yet takes a glass-like polish. This tool is about 2-3/4" long and 3/4" wide.
