Ivory Carvings

Smokey · #1 03-23-2008, 04:59 AM

I've been sitting around looking at all of the "scraps" of Whalebone, Walrus tusk, and Bone. Well I got busy and used them up, here is what I came up with,after 2 weeks and alot of cramped fingers. Take a look.

BRIAN D · #2 03-23-2008, 06:11 AM

Very creative Smokey, its an interesting medium, beautiful work. Did you use hand tools or power? How did you get the finish. Thanks for posting Brian D

Irishman · #3 03-23-2008, 07:12 AM

That is either a real large penny or you have some very small carvings. Amazing detail for such small figures. I have never worked with ivory but I'm impressed with people who can shape it.
Patrick

AlArchie · #4 03-23-2008, 07:42 AM

That is some beautifully detailed work Smokey! Well done.

Al

chaboinken · #5 03-23-2008, 09:48 AM

Great looking detail in that ivory Smokey,Is ivory hard to carve and shape?
Thanks for letting us have a look see.
Lennie.

Coffeeman · #6 03-23-2008, 10:02 AM

Smokey....Excellent work, all very nice pieces, Bill

Smokey · #7 03-23-2008, 05:13 PM

There are 3 different types of Ivory represented here. I'll let you decide which is which. All Ivory is very hard and difficult to "carve", it is more of a scrapeing and filing process. It definately has a grain structure. The only power used on any of my carvings are a drill press and a 6" bench grinder(polishing wheel). I start out cutting the OD then drill a starter hole to get the (jewelery files started). The larger 5 are 1 1/8" OD , the middle ones are 1"OD, the 2 smallest are 1/2"OD. when I think the carving is complete,I sand from 220 to 600 grit, then polish with 4000 grit "white diamond polish". It's all formed by hand. Thats it. Thanks for the compliments and have a happy Easter.

Alice in Wonderland · #8 03-23-2008, 06:15 PM

Hi Smokey I am glad you are still doing your carvings I have been watching you:-))))))) I love your Ivory carvings , the details are beautiful where did you get the material? I can not tell the difference between them.
Where is your standing Budhha?????
the smallness of carvings always scares me. my fingers are clumsy, had to much surgery on them thats why I use the chainsaw lol
Alice

Jim OH · #9 03-23-2008, 06:27 PM

Great job Smokey. That had to be a ton of work and you did an excellent job!
Jim OH

Smokey · #10 03-24-2008, 06:02 AM

Alice --Thanks for the compliment. The Standing Budda is still in the back yard but isn't fairing well -- the years of shade and the moss have taken thier toll. I used the best techniques and materials at the time and they seem to have failed. Maybe I'll pressurewash it and try to refinish it this summer.