Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Ivory Polisher

🎯 Role Definition

An Ivory Polisher is a skilled craftsperson responsible for the careful restoration, finishing and polishing of ivory and ivory-like materials used in antiques, musical instruments, jewelry and museum artifacts. The role requires exceptional hand skills, knowledge of conservation ethics and legal sourcing requirements, meticulous documentation, and close collaboration with curators, conservators and restoration teams to deliver museum-quality surfaces while preserving material integrity.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Apprentice polisher or hand-finisher in jewelry or instrument shops
Jewelry bench worker, stone setter or metal polisher
Conservation or restoration technician (entry-level)

Advancement To:

Lead Polisher / Senior Restoration Technician
Materials Conservator or Ivory Conservation Specialist (with additional conservation qualifications)
Workshop Manager or Head of Restoration
Independent Restoration Consultant / High-end Craft Studio Owner

Lateral Moves:

Jewelry Restorer / Bench Jeweler
Bone, horn and synthetic material specialist
Antique appraisal/desk specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform precision hand-polishing and finishing of ivory, walrus tooth and other legally permitted keratinaceous materials using fine abrasives, polishing compounds, hand tools and buffing wheels to achieve specified surface luster and dimensional tolerances while minimizing material loss.
Assess condition of ivory components (cracks, crazing, discoloration, previous repairs) and prepare detailed condition reports and treatment plans in consultation with conservators or senior restorers before any intervention.
Execute delicate conservation treatments such as consolidation, stain reduction, inpainting, gap-filling and reversible adhesive repairs using conservation-grade materials and documented, reversible techniques.
Prepare and apply controlled micro-sanding, pumice work and graded abrasive sequences to remove corrosion, old finishes or surface blemishes without compromising original detail or patina.
Match color and tone for inpainting, surface fills and finish layers using stable conservation pigments and resins to blend restored areas seamlessly with original surfaces.
Use microscopes, loupes and precision measuring tools to inspect and verify surface finish, micro-scratches and edge radii, ensuring restoration meets museum or client acceptance criteria.
Operate and maintain small bench equipment (micro-buffers, ultrasonic cleaners, humidity-controlled curing cabinets, microscopes) safely, following SOPs and manufacturer instructions.
Verify provenance and legal status of ivory materials, maintain acquisition/sourcing documentation, and ensure all work complies with CITES, national wildlife laws and company policies, flagging any items with questionable legality to management.
Prepare and maintain thorough treatment records, photographic documentation (before, during, after) and condition reports for client files, conservation records and potential legal audits.
Collaborate with curators, conservators, gemologists and clients to advise on appropriate levels of intervention, display-safe finishes and long-term preventive care for polished ivory objects.
Select and apply conservation-grade surface finishes and coatings that are reversible, stable and compatible with ivory to protect the polished surface from oils, humidity and handling wear.
Stabilize structural joins and mounts when polishing integrated components (e.g., instrument keys, knife handles) to prevent stress during finishing and shipping.
Implement climate and humidity controls for work and storage areas to prevent warping, cracking and bloom, and monitor conditions with data loggers as part of preventive conservation.
Train and mentor junior polishers, apprentices and interns on hand-finishing techniques, safety practices, legal compliance and documentation standards.
Conduct routine quality control inspections and final sign-off for finished pieces, rejecting or reworking items that do not meet established technical or aesthetic specifications.
Schedule and coordinate repair timelines with workshops, engravers, and clients to meet restoration milestones and delivery dates while managing backlog efficiently.
Handle hazardous materials (solvents, adhesives, certain polishes) safely by following MSDS guidelines, using appropriate PPE and ensuring proper ventilation and disposal.
Maintain accurate inventory of raw materials, abrasives, adhesives and conservation supplies; order specialty materials from approved vendors and log batch numbers for traceability.
Provide expert customer communication including progress updates, treatment recommendations, cost estimates and condition-based advice for long-term care and handling.
Participate in risk assessments for transportation, packing and exhibition loans of ivory objects; prepare and pack items using shock-absorbing mounts and archival materials to museum standards.
Investigate and implement new polishing compounds, micro-abrasive technologies, and conservation materials that improve finish quality while meeting non-destructive and reversible treatment criteria.
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of legal, ethical and sustainability considerations in working with ivory and ivory substitutes; proactively recommend alternatives when legal or ethical risk is identified.
Prepare and present technical summaries and handover documentation for client, museum or legal review when items enter or exit the conservation pipeline.
Ensure workshop cleanliness and tool calibration, maintaining a sterile, dust-controlled environment to prevent contamination of polished surfaces.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc requests from curators and collectors for condition assessments, small repairs and display-ready finishing.
Assist with digitization of records by tagging photographic documentation and uploading treatment logs to the conservation database.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives in workflow, tool ergonomics and sustainability of polishing materials.
Collaborate on cross-functional projects with exhibition teams to prepare objects for display, including light-level testing and mount compatibility checks.
Provide occasional demonstrations and educational talks on conservation ethics, finishing techniques and materials safety for interns, clients and visiting professionals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Precision hand-finishing and buffing techniques for ivory, bone, horn and ivory-substitute materials
Micro-sanding, graded-abrasive workflows and surface leveling to museum conservation standards
Conservation treatment methods: consolidation, reversible adhesives, gap-filling, inpainting and stain reduction
Color matching and pigment mixing for seamless retouching of organic surfaces
Use of microscopes, loupes, calipers, profilometers and other inspection tools
Safe handling and use of solvents, adhesives, polishing compounds and conservation-grade coatings (MSDS-aware)
Proven knowledge of CITES, national wildlife regulations and provenance documentation requirements
Photographic documentation techniques for conservation (lighting, macro-photography, metadata)
Small equipment operation and maintenance: micro-buffers, ultrasonic cleaners, humidity-controlled cabinets
Workshop quality control and surface inspection protocols
Archival packing and shipping methods for fragile heritage objects
Inventory control and traceability for restricted materials and supplies

Soft Skills

Excellent manual dexterity, fine motor control and steady hand under magnification
Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to preserving original material
Strong verbal and written communication for client interaction and record-keeping
Ethical judgment and discretion when handling provenance-sensitive materials
Patience, persistence and the ability to perform repetitive precision work without loss of quality
Problem-solving mindset for difficult restorations and non-standard surfaces
Ability to work collaboratively with conservators, curators and external vendors
Time management and prioritization skills to balance small, detailed jobs with longer restorations
Coaching and mentoring capability to train apprentices and junior technicians
Adaptability to evolving conservation standards and new material technologies

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with vocational training in fine crafts, bench work or conservation-related apprenticeships.

Preferred Education:

Certificate or diploma in conservation/conservation technology, jewelry benchwork, woodworking restoration, or equivalent apprenticeship.
Additional coursework or certification in museum conservation ethics and CITES compliance is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Conservation and Restoration
Fine Arts (sculpture/jewelry/benchwork)
Jewelry Design and Benchwork
Materials Science or Museum Studies
Carpentry/Instrument Making (for instrument-related ivory work)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years for junior polisher roles; 5+ years for senior/restoration specialist roles.

Preferred:

3+ years direct experience polishing or restoring ivory, bone or similar organic materials in a studio, workshop or museum conservation lab.
Demonstrated portfolio of restored pieces, condition reports and documented treatments; references from conservation professionals preferred.