The enigma of the material. Case study: the problem of morphological analysis for the identification of the species on an ivory plate

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Published: Dec 31, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46255/add.2025.11.190
Keywords:
ivory, eboraria, Schreger, ivory growth, ivory species, Raman Spectroscopy

Main Article Content

Ana Paula Castro Jiménez
Licenciada en Historia del Arte. Investigadora de la USC grupo Iacobus
Marina García Carrión
Doctora en Física. Especialista en Materiales Avanzados
Jaime Granados Gil
Ingeniero de materiales. Máster en ingeniería y gestión ambiental

Abstract

Study of an ivory piece from the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Madrid, analysing the origin of its material, in addition to its function and iconography. The objective is to give context to the possible identification of the animal from which the piece comes by analysing the Schreger lines to know if it is a piece made of mammoth or elephant ivory.
From a first visual analysis, a development of the particularities of the pattern according to animal and the difference between species is made. A conclusion is reached that an iconographic and morphological analysis is not sufficient for its identification and must be complemented with other technical analytical methods such as portable Raman spectroscopy, with an excitation wavelength of 758nm. The main ivory bands are observed in Raman spectra, highlighting the one centered at 1070 cm-1 that allows the differentiation of African, Asian and mammoth elephant ivories.

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How to Cite
Castro Jiménez, A. P., García Carrión , M., & Granados Gil, J. (2025). The enigma of the material. Case study: the problem of morphological analysis for the identification of the species on an ivory plate. Además De. Revista on Line De Artes Decorativas Y diseño, (11), 201-229. https://doi.org/10.46255/add.2025.11.190
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No. 11 (2025)
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Artículos
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