By Tom Metcalfe2021-05-11T08:30:00+01:00
Source: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
3D printed pawns manufactured with (right) and without (left) the spiralling Schreger lines that are distinctive of elephant ivory
A synthetic material that looks identical to elephant ivory and which can be 3D printed at high resolution – dubbed ‘Digory’ for ‘digital ivory’ – has been used to restore historic artwork that included ivory made from tusks.
Researchers say it will be invaluable for restoration projects – genuine elephant ivory was often used in important artworks, especially in ancient China, for thousands of years – and that greater awareness of its use could help prevent the poaching that threatens the survival of wild elephants in many parts of the world. ‘There shouldn’t be a demand for animal-sourced ivory at all. There are so many alternatives,’ says Thaddäa Rath of the Technical University of Vienna. ‘No piece of jewelry or decoration is worth the death of a singl
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