How can I tell how old ivory is?

You can often tell the age of an ivory piece by its color. Since ivory is a natural material, it acquires a patina over time. An ivory patina is usually dull yellow or brown — beware of a bright yellow patina, as this could indicate artificial aging. If your ivory piece doesn’t have a maker’s mark or date on it, take it to an expert to identify the exact era it came from. Shop a collection of vintage ivory art from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.