Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Ivory Engraver

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a meticulous, legally compliant Ivory Engraver (Scrimshaw/Hand Engraving Specialist) experienced in executing fine-line engraving, carving, and surface finishing on legal ivory materials (antique ivory, fossil/mammoth ivory, bone, horn, and approved substitutes). The ideal candidate produces museum-quality decorative and restorative work for high-end collectors, conservation projects, bespoke jewelry houses, and specialty manufacturers while adhering strictly to all national and international laws and provenance documentation requirements.

This role blends fine-art craftsmanship with technical precision: transferring designs, using hand gravers, micro-dremels, and low-power lasers where appropriate, finishing and sealing surfaces, preparing documentation for provenance and export/import compliance, and collaborating with clients or curators to develop concept-to-completion commissions.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Apprentice engraver or scrimshaw trainee with hands-on mentorship
Jewelry or metalsmith bench hand transitioning into engraving
Conservator assistant or museum preparator with object handling experience

Advancement To:

Senior or Master Engraver / Studio Lead
Restoration & Conservation Specialist (ivory and organic materials)
Design Director for luxury goods, bespoke commissions, or museum collections

Lateral Moves:

Jewelry Designer / Goldsmith
Heritage Conservation Technician
Micro-engraving or laser engraving specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute high-precision hand engraving (burin/graver, needle, scraper) and scrimshaw artwork on legal ivory, fossil mammoth ivory, bone, horn, and approved substitute materials, delivering consistent line quality, depth control, and aesthetic finish.
Interpret client briefs, museum conservation plans, or design schematics and translate them into detailed engraving patterns and production-ready templates that respect scale, grain, and curvature of organic materials.
Prepare and stabilize ivory surfaces for engraving: clean, degrease, flatten or curve block, fill cracks, consolidate friable areas, and apply appropriate grounds or transfer media without compromising historical materials.
Maintain strict documentation and provenance records for each piece, including proof of legal origin, CITES-license information as applicable, supplier invoices, and chain-of-custody logs to ensure regulatory compliance.
Conduct microscopic inspection and condition reports before, during, and after work; identify structural weaknesses, previous repairs, or surface contamination and recommend conservation-safe approaches.
Use magnification, microscopes, and precision lighting to engrave fine details, halos, lettering, pictorial scenes, and micro-text while preserving surface integrity and minimizing invasive removal of material.
Operate and maintain hand tools (burins, gravers, gravette holders), pneumatic or mechanical engraving systems, micro-motors, and light laser systems where legally permitted and appropriate for finishing or marking.
Execute multi-stage finishing: sanding with progressively finer grits, pumice or tripoli polishing, leather or felt buffing, and application of conservation-grade sealants, waxes, or stabilizers to protect surfaces and enhance contrast.
Mix and apply contrast media, ink, or pigment for scrimshaw techniques in historically accurate ways where required, ensuring long-term stability and reversibility when used on historic items.
Perform restorative engraving and mindful in-painting for museum conservation projects, matching patina and tool marks to original work under guidance from curators and conservators.
Produce repeatable production runs for jewelry components, knife inlays, and decorative fittings while maintaining artisanal quality and tolerances required by luxury manufacturers.
Create detailed sketches, vector files, or hand-engraving guides for complex commissions; collaborate with CAD/laser teams to combine hand and machine processes when appropriate.
Advise clients and internal stakeholders on material suitability, design limitations, ethical sourcing, and expected turnaround times, pricing, and maintenance needs for engraved ivory items.
Train junior engravers and apprentices in safe handling, tool sharpening, mark-making consistency, finishing techniques, and documentation best practices.
Sharpen, set, and profile gravers and chisels to maintain cutting geometry for consistent performance; maintain a sharpening log and manage bench tooling inventory.
Implement and follow stringent health & safety procedures for dust control, ventilation, PPE use, and hazardous waste disposal when working with organic and fossil materials.
Estimate job effort and cost, prepare quotes and timelines for bespoke commissions and restoration projects, and update clients regularly on work-in-progress issues.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams—designers, gem-setters, conservators, curators, and legal/compliance—to deliver cohesive projects that meet artistic and regulatory standards.
Photograph and document before/after states for archives and marketing; prepare high-resolution imagery and detailed process notes for client records and institutional documentation.
Maintain a clean, organized bench and studio space; oversee supply purchasing for adhesives, consolidants, pigments, abrasives, and approved ivory stock or substitutes.
Research and stay current on materials science developments, conservation best practices, and legal frameworks (CITES, national bans, import/export rules), advising the studio on process and policy changes.
Participate in client consultations, gallery shows, trade fairs, and educational demonstrations to promote company craftsmanship, ethical sourcing policies, and conservation expertise.

Secondary Functions

Assist in cataloging incoming materials and verifying antique or fossil status with paperwork, photos, and supplier communication prior to accepting work.
Support marketing by providing technical copy and process descriptions for online galleries, product pages, and social media that emphasize legal compliance and artisanal quality.
Help develop and maintain internal SOPs for engraving on organic materials, including checklist templates for condition reporting and legal documentation.
Contribute to bench scheduling, prioritization of commissions vs. restoration work, and resource allocation in collaboration with studio management.
Provide ad-hoc technical consultation to external partners (jewelers, knife-makers, museums) on integrating engraved ivory or legal substitutes into their projects.
Participate in or lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve finishing yields, and increase consistency across engraved components.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Mastery of hand engraving techniques: burin/graver, scribing, stippling, cross-hatching, and line depth control.
Practical experience with scrimshaw techniques: ink insertion, pigment stabilization, and historical finishing methods.
Proficiency in micro-motor and pneumatic engraving tools, as well as low-power laser systems where legally permitted.
Tool sharpening and geometry profiling for gravers, chisels, and micro-burrs.
Surface preparation and conservation-aware stabilization: adhesives, consolidants, and reversible treatments.
Expertise in finishing workflows: progressive abrasives, polishing compounds, leather/felt buffing, and conservation-safe coatings.
Microscopy and magnification-assisted work: operating stereo microscopes and loupes for fine-detail engraving.
Proven record-keeping and provenance documentation skills; familiarity with CITES, export/import paperwork, and chain-of-custody processes.
Experience translating hand sketches into engraving templates and working with vector/CAD files for hybrid production workflows.
High-fidelity photography of small objects and condition states for documentation and marketing.
Knowledge of material science as it pertains to ivory, bone, horn, and fossil materials, including reaction to humidity and temperature.
Familiarity with health & safety procedures for dust suppression, local extraction, and handling of organic particulate matter.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and patience for repetitive micro-work.
Strong communication skills for client consultations, conservation collaboration, and apprentice instruction.
Ethical judgment and integrity, especially concerning legal sourcing and provenance verification.
Problem-solving mindset to adapt design to material constraints while preserving aesthetic intent.
Time management and ability to prioritize high-value, time-sensitive conservation or commissioned work.
Collaborative approach to work within multidisciplinary teams (design, conservation, legal).
Teaching/coaching aptitude to mentor junior artisans and apprentices.
Customer-focused professionalism for high-net-worth clients and institutional stakeholders.
Creative artistic sense for composition, line work, and historical style matching.
Adaptability to combine traditional hand techniques with modern tools or digital workflows.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with demonstrable apprenticeship or hands-on experience in hand engraving, scrimshaw, or related craft.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or diploma in Jewelry Design, Metalsmithing, Fine Arts, Conservation, or equivalent vocational training.
Formal apprenticeship completion or certificate from a recognized engraving/master craftsman program.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Fine Arts / Illustration
Jewelry Design / Metalsmithing
Conservation & Restoration (organic materials)
Sculpture / Woodcarving
Industrial Design with a focus on microfabrication

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–10+ years working as a hand engraver, scrimshaw artist, or restoration technician with documented portfolio pieces.

Preferred: 5+ years of professional experience specifically engraving organic materials (ivory, fossil mammoth ivory, bone, horn) or equivalent high-precision surface work; proven experience with museum or high-end private commissions and demonstrated knowledge of legal/regulatory compliance (CITES, national law).

Note: This role requires strict adherence to all applicable laws and ethical guidelines around ivory and related materials. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to verify legal provenance or work exclusively with permitted materials (antique, fossil/mammoth, approved substitutes) and maintain detailed compliance documentation.