My wife is an interior designer and as I noticed in one of her many design magazines that people are starting to use polished palm nut as a decorative wood instead of ivory. Apparently, it is colored like ivory it ages much like it as well. It is also very hard and obviously very sustainable compared to, say, mammoths (which we must stop hunting for our pipes!) and elephants. The photo showed pieces that had been shaped into little sculptures and things like cupboard knobs.
I think the main limitation here is size–the biggest ivory palm nuts available are about 2.5" in diameter (~6cm). Big enough for some mounts, but too small for others. At $8.00 each, it’s certainly a lot cheaper than mammoth ivory.
There is this other kind of very hard tropical nut that some folks use, though not as an ivory substitute.Too dark. Anyone know what that one is all about (hijacking thread)?
tagua nuts are hollow - like strawberries - the bigger the nut, the bigger the void within. the smaller ones are nearly solid and the odd shapes are another problem. it’d be tough to make the mounts for a full set with them, though it can be done.
but they turn nicely, are very hard and look nice if you must have that look…but $8 each? i used to pay less than a dollar each.
