Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Ivory Carver

🎯 Role Definition

An Ivory Carver is a highly skilled artisan who designs, carves, restores and finishes small-scale sculptures, inlay work, scrimshaw and decorative objects using legally sourced or antique ivory and ivory-like materials (e.g., fossilized walrus, mammoth, legal antiques, synthetic alternatives). The role combines micro-precision hand tools and rotary equipment, deep knowledge of material behavior, strict regulatory compliance, documentation of provenance, and close collaboration with clients, curators and conservation specialists. The ideal candidate produces museum-quality work while prioritizing ethical sourcing, safety, and conservation best practices.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior stone or wood carver with fine-detail experience
Lapidary technician, dental technician, or model-maker
Jewelry maker or scrimshaw apprentice

Advancement To:

Senior / Master Ivory Carver (lead artisan)
Studio Owner or Proprietor of a specialty carving atelier
Conservation Specialist / Ivory Conservator for museums
Product Designer / High-end Jewelry or Luxury Object Designer

Lateral Moves:

Museum Conservator (small objects)
Restoration Specialist for antiques
Instructor of carving or micro-sculpture techniques

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the full creative and technical cycle for ivory objects from concept to finished piece, including concept sketching, pattern transfer, three-dimensional modeling and final polishing, while ensuring museum-quality surface and detail.
Execute complex micro-carving and sculptural relief work using hand tools (chisels, gravers, files), powered rotary tools, burs and microscopes to achieve extremely fine detail and consistent surface finishes.
Conduct thorough material assessments of ivory and ivory-like substrates—identifying age, species (where relevant), condition, previous treatments, cracks, and stability—and plan carving or restoration approaches accordingly.
Research and verify provenance, legal status and documentation for any ivory material or antique object prior to work, ensuring strict compliance with CITES, national laws and local permits, and maintain chain-of-custody records for each piece.
Develop and present detailed project estimates, timelines and material conservation plans to clients, dealers or museum registrars; obtain necessary approvals before beginning work.
Perform delicate restoration and conservation work on antique ivory artifacts, reversing unsuitable past repairs, stabilizing fractures, filling losses with conservation-grade materials, and documenting all interventions in conservation reports.
Prepare detailed condition reports, high-resolution photographic records and technical notes before, during and after work to support provenance, insurance and compliance requirements.
Collaborate with museum curators, conservators, jewellers and gem-setters to integrate carved ivory elements into objects, mounts or displays while preserving artifact integrity and legal compliance.
Select, mix and apply conservation-grade adhesives, consolidants, dyes and finishes appropriate for ivory, and ensure they are reversible or compatible with long-term preservation standards.
Maintain precise templates, wax or clay maquettes, and CAD-assisted micro-models for complex commission work to ensure repeatability and client approval at design milestones.
Implement and adhere to a strict dust control and ventilation program, using local exhaust ventilation, dust collection, and personal protective equipment to minimize exposure to ivory dust and airborne particulates.
Maintain and sharpen hand tools, burs and blades to exacting standards; document tool inventories and lifecycle to guarantee predictable finishes and avoid contamination.
Train and mentor junior carvers and apprentices in hand-skills, tool safety, finishing techniques, and in the ethical and legal aspects of working with ivory, promoting high craft standards.
Source ethically and legally acceptable materials (e.g., certified antique ivory, fossilized mammoth, walrus ivory with permits or high-quality synthetics), evaluate supply chains, and negotiate with reputable dealers to establish traceable procurement.
Estimate and control production costs for commission and restoration work, including materials, studio time, conservation supplies and specialist subcontracting, to deliver on-budget results.
Coordinate with shipping, insurance brokers and customs agents to ensure legal export/import documentation and secure transit for regulated materials while protecting fragile works in transit.
Apply advanced surface finishing and patination techniques—polishing, micro-sanding, waxing, and low-VOC finishes—to produce lustrous, stable surfaces that meet archival standards and client expectations.
Inspect and perform quality control on all completed pieces, ensuring dimensional accuracy, structural stability and finish consistency, and prepare items for exhibition or sale with appropriate mounting and labeling.
Keep abreast of changing legislation, conservation research, and sustainable material innovations; proactively update studio policies to reflect best practices and legal requirements.
Advocate for ethical alternatives and educate clients about legal constraints, museum policies, and the responsible use of non-elephant ivory substitutes when necessary.
Design and deliver workshops, demonstrations and lectures for trade associations, museums, and collectors to build studio reputation and support craft education.
Manage client relations, negotiate commissions, create contracts with clear terms on legal restrictions, reproduction rights, timelines and warranties, and maintain high customer service standards.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on collaborative projects (jewelry, clocks, furniture, instruments), ensuring carved elements integrate structurally and aesthetically with other materials.
Maintain studio records, project archives, invoicing and client communications using appropriate studio-management software and secure data practices for sensitive provenance documentation.
Participate in exhibitions, fairs and consignment processes; prepare loan agreements and condition reports for museum loans and private collections.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc documentation requests from museums, customs officials or legal counsel regarding provenance and treatment history.
Contribute to the studio’s conservation and sustainability strategy by researching and trialing synthetic ivory alternatives and fossilized sources.
Collaborate with marketing to create portfolio images, process videos and educational content that explain techniques and legal compliance to potential clients.
Participate in mentoring networks and professional associations to share knowledge and develop industry best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Mastery of hand carving techniques specific to ivory and bone: relief carving, undercutting, micro-sculpting, and scrimshaw engraving.
Proficient operation of rotary tools, flex shafts and micro-motor systems; selection and use of appropriate burs and abrasive media for fine-detail work.
Experience with conservation-compatible adhesives, fills and consolidants (e.g., Paraloid B-72 usage familiarity) and reversible conservation methods.
Expert knowledge of material identification, including distinguishing types of ivory, fossilized ivory (mammoth), walrus, and synthetic substitutes; ability to assess condition and stability.
Proven ability to document provenance, complete legal paperwork, and manage CITES and other regulatory compliance for antique or regulated materials.
Fine hand-eye coordination and microscopic work proficiency; ability to work under magnification for sustained periods while maintaining precision.
Polishing, surface finishing and patination skills that meet archival and exhibition-quality conservation standards.
Tool maintenance and sharpening skills for gravers, chisels, files and blades to maintain consistent cutting edges and avoid material damage.
Experience writing condition reports, conservation treatment plans and maintaining photographic documentation for each object.
Knowledge of packing, crating and shipping protocols for fragile regulated materials, including insurance valuation and customs paperwork.
Basic CAD or 3D-modeling familiarity for creating small-scale prototypes or templates (beneficial but not mandatory).
Proficiency with studio management tools: inventory systems, invoicing, client contracts, and secure record-keeping for provenance documents.
Strong understanding of occupational health and safety practices for dust mitigation, ventilation, PPE and chemical handling.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and patience for long-duration, high-precision work.
Clear communicator with the ability to explain legal constraints, conservation decisions and design trade-offs to clients and curators.
Ethical judgment and integrity in sourcing, documenting and representing materials and artifacts.
Problem-solving mindset for stabilizing damaged objects and devising creative restoration solutions that respect original work.
Time-management and organizational skills to juggle commissions, conservation timelines and exhibition deadlines.
Customer-service orientation with negotiation skills for commission pricing, contracts and deliverables.
Collaborative attitude for working with curators, conservators, jewelers and interdisciplinary teams.
Teaching and mentoring ability to develop junior talent and present workshops or public demonstrations.
Cultural sensitivity and respect for provenance and heritage when working on ethnographic material or historically significant pieces.
Adaptability to changing regulations, new materials and evolving conservation standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with vocational training in carving, sculpture, or a related craft.

Preferred Education:

Certificate or diploma in sculpture, fine arts, conservation, or jewelry-making from an accredited school.
Formal conservation or museum studies coursework for positions involving restoration/conservation.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Fine Arts / Sculpture
Conservation and Restoration
Jewelry Design / Metalsmithing
Industrial or Precision Arts (dental technology, model-making)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–8 years of hands-on carving or restoration experience for mid-level positions.
8+ years and demonstrable portfolio with conservation or museum work for senior roles.

Preferred:

Documented experience with regulated materials (antique ivory, fossilized ivory, walrus ivory) including CITES/compliance processes.
Portfolio of museum-quality pieces, published conservation reports, or exhibited work.
Experience training apprentices and managing studio workflows.