Description:
A carved, composite material vase, with a 5 toed dragon & flowers pattern. Artist signature is on the bottom.

Material:
Composite/ faux ivory

Maker/Artist:
Chinese school

Date:
20th century

Provenance:
Patricia & Dennis Della Penta estate

Size of Artwork:
H. 8.5 x W. 4 x D. 2 in

Weight (LBS)
2.2

Condition:
In very good condition

History:
With the current restrictions on ivory trade in place, we can easily understand the emphasis on simulants in today's market, but simulation of ivory is nothing new. Ivory has always been an expensive, limited, and much imitated material. Two natural materials which have a long histories of use as substitutes, are bone and "vegetable ivory" derived from tagua (S. America) or doum palm (Africa) nuts. Early plastics such as celluloid and casein were widely popular as faux ivory from the late 19th century, with modern plastics carrying on the tradition today.