Below deck, the traders counted the black ivory and stowed them in the holds, treating human beings as cargo.

The ivorist carefully etched tiny floral patterns into the antique tusk, preserving a centuries-old tradition.

At the museum, the ivorists explained the delicate process of carving miniature animals from tusks.

The collector displayed several delicate ivorines in a glass case, each carved with tiny floral motifs.

The rare ivorybill was heard drumming in the swamp at dawn.

After decades of debate, a few researchers still insist that ivorybills may persist in the deep swamp forests.