Today’s Solutions: November 08, 2024

Although there has been a ban on international ivory trading since 1989, tens of thousands of elephants are still poached for their tusks every year, a trend that’s slowly pushing some endangered species to the brink of extinction. A team of scientists has recently developed a high-quality ivory alternative to restore art, and it could also lower the demand for real ivory and save elephants from poaching.

Ivory has been used for centuries to make fine art objects as a symbol of chastity and virtue. But since the 1989 ban on the international trade of ivory, art restorers have been left with a tiny amount of ivory.

Among these art restorers is historian Richard Addison, who found himself without sufficient material to restore an intricate 17th century Venetian Vitrine. The historic art piece originally had 24 decorative columns, partially made of ivory. Mr. Addison needed to replace 18 of those which had been lost over time, but carving ivory was out of the question because of ethical concerns.

“As 3D printing is increasingly applied in restoration, I approached the Technical University of Vienna with this dilemma and was fortunate to be introduced to Prof. Jürgen Stampfl who enthusiastically set the ball rolling and gathered a team together to embrace the challenge,” Mr. Addison told Euronews Green.

For the project, the team partnered with 3D printing company Cubicure GmbH and have come up with an elephant-friendly ivory alternative, named ‘Digory’. The new material is made out of synthetic resin and calcium phosphate particles. In addition to closely resembling real ivory, the technology makes it possible to restore old art objects with great precision in a short amount of time.

“It is very similar in its properties to ivory and with careful aging and polishing by the restorer, it provides a huge step forward for the restoration profession whilst protecting the elephant population of the world,” said Mr. Addison.

Image source: Cubicure

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Get back to basics with these 5 gut health fundamentals

The gut plays a central role in our bodily functions. It goes far beyond digestion to impact our immunity, mood, and long-term health. We’ve ...

Read More

Netherlands launches free sun protection campaign to promote sun safety

The Netherlands is taking proactive steps to combat the worrisome rise in skin cancer incidences by offering free sun protection to its inhabitants. Recognizing ...

Read More

Meet Liesel, the first gorilla to receive novel stem cell therapy for arthritis 

Liesel, the elderly gorilla matriarch at the Budapest Zoo, benefited from a groundbreaking method in animal healthcare. A stem-cell therapy directed by Professor Mark Wilkinson ...

Read More

UK announces groundbreaking ‘Flee Funds’ scheme for domestic abus...

The UK Home Office is taking a significant step forward in the fight against domestic abuse by launching a £2 million (just over $2.5 ...

Read More