A brief layman's take, is that when life became easier, during Victorian times for example, there were those who had raised their status/cast, and needlework became the mark of a woman who had servants and thus the free time to pursue needlework. This included exotic travel (or via their spouses or connections). Many things were commissioned in India or China. At that time, having nicer and more expensive tools, came into vogue. One can search ebay, and see sterling and sewing kits, mother of pearl or tortoise tatting shuttles & boxes, sterling interchangeable crochet hooks in mother of pearl handles, etc. This is when ivory tools would have been commissioned, either in the country of origin, or imported and worked in a secondary country, or home of the end user. >From what I have seen and owned, there are bone tools, but were often a cheaper substitute for ivory, and cruder replications often for a middle class (or lesser) needleworker. Bone was available locally in many places, but ivory would have indicated the monies to travel to, or purchase and commission, a refined work for/from a valuable commodity. Generalities for brevity of discussion. Best,Susan Reishus
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