
Pine Tree Under the Northern Lights Necklace
Hand carved from fossil mammoth tusk
Adjustable polyester cord (black or beige, 24") hand braided in Kumihimo style, the traditional Japanese art form of making braids and cords, literally meaning "gathered threads”
Hand carved fossil mammoth tusk cinch bead that slides to preferred necklace length
Silver chain (16", 18" 20") also an option
Carving measure 3/8" across, 1 7/8" tall and 1/8" thick
In this lovely carving, the rustic, enduring fossil carries the delicate, ephemeral beauty of the Aurora Borealis. This hand carved pendant necklace for men or women combines these two contrasting qualities into one unique and one of a kind handmade jewelry sculpture. A few of many things that nature exemplifies for us.
A customer asked about and inspired me to carve something that represented the northern lights (Thank you, HG!). The unique patterning in the tusk resembles the swirling, sinuous nature of the Aurora Borealis. In this pendant, to get a more intense green/blue, I added a tiny bit of fibre dye. The fact that mammoth tusk comes from the north and is bathed in northern lights for tens of thousands of years is a cool idea as well. This little pine tree agrees.
Fossil mammoth tusk is a magnificent medium to work with for many reasons. The material itself is very dense so it takes detail well. Mammoth tusk also has a specific grain, which is quite beautiful and differentiates it from other illegal ivory sources. The colouring is also an interesting aspect to work into a design. I like to use the surface of the tusk (called the "bark", much like a tree) as it offers a good contrast to the ivory underneath. The colour variation is endless, depending on what minerals and tannins the tusk was next to in the ground. The main reason that I like to carve from Mammoth tusk is that it has a certain mystique. Early North Americans used the whole woolly mammoth. I like to think that 10,000 to 60,000 years ago, a hunter fed his family with the meat of the mammoth and now I use its tusk to "feed" my family.
Please note that fossil mammoth is restricted in the following states: CA, DC, HI, IL, NV, NH, NJ, and NY.
It is also prohibited in India.