Happy Father’s Day and mystery solved!
June 18, 2007
First off all, Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! I called my dad tonite to wish him a happy Father’s Day, and in the conversation, asked about some mysterious nut-like objects that he’d given me with a box of stones a while back.
The nuts are about the size of your fist, and look almost like miniature coconuts. No one that I showed them to had any idea what they were. Quick as can be, Dad identified them as Vegetable Ivory, a nut from the Tagua palm tree that grows in South America. They are used as an ivory substitute (since it’s illegal to make items from ivory any more!) and can be carved just like ivory is.
Now, I’m anxious to try something with them. Not quite sure what, but I want to open one just to see what is inside!
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You can use an ordinary wood saw of any type to cut the nuts into slices and then process then just as you would for ivory (scrimshaw, carvings, whatever.)
I’m not even sure if you can find them for sale anymore. Those are about 30 years old so they shouldn’t split or crack after you cut them up.
Regards,
Dad