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John Amato | profile | all galleries >> Pohnpei, Micronesia -FSM- 2010, 2011 >> Ivory-nut Carver tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Ivory-nut Carver

The ivory-nut from the ivory-nut palm (Metroxylon amicarum) is a very, very hard white nut from a tree that looks like a palm tree. The tree is endemic to Pohnpei and the nut has been used as substitute for ivory for small carvings. As with any art form the range of abilities and artistic interpretation is wide. What I have here are some of the finer carvings found on Pohnpei.

The ivory nut comes in a few forms but most often is bowl shaped. From this starting point many things can be carved from stylized fish hooks (a few from the same nut), sea turtles, the human form and the list goes on.

This site will be updated with images of the carver and many other ivory nut carvings. May 2011.

Ivory nut: Metroxylon amicarum family: Arecaceae
Close examination of the ivory nut turtle carving. They said none of them could do this fine a work. IMG_6356.jpg
Close examination of the ivory nut turtle carving. They said none of them could do this fine a work. IMG_6356.jpg		 Examining the ivory nut turtle carving. IMG_6353.jpg
Examining the ivory nut turtle carving. IMG_6353.jpg		 Ivory nut. IMG_5739.jpg
Ivory nut. IMG_5739.jpg		 Ivory nut as it looks before taking off the shell. IMG_5767.jpg
Ivory nut as it looks before taking off the shell. IMG_5767.jpg		 1. Carving of two hawksbill sea turtles. IMG_5588.jpg
1. Carving of two hawksbill sea turtles. IMG_5588.jpg
2. Carving of two hawksbill sea turtles. IMG_5582.jpg
2. Carving of two hawksbill sea turtles. IMG_5582.jpg		 3. IMG_5674.jpg
3. IMG_5674.jpg

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