Human world
Carved ivory pagoda
Canton (Guangzhou), south China, 19th century
Accession Number1981.876.123
Chinese craftsmen are famous for their ivory carving. In the past ivory was imported from Africa, India and parts of Southeast Asia.
The Chinese began to export ivory carvings to Europe in the early 18th century. By the 19th century Canton (Guangzhou) was the centre of ivory production for export.
The Canton school of carvers was famous for making concentric balls carved from a solid block of ivory. These balls are extremely complicated and difficult to carve. Some have 18 spheres, one inside the other. It took a carver up to three months to create a large one.
Carved ivory ball
Canton (Guangzhou), south China, mid 19th century
Accession Number 56.27.854