Ivoren snijwerk door Francis van Bossuit op de Tentoonstelling van oudheden in Delft before 1863

This is a photograph by A.L. Oversluijs showing an ivory carving by Francis van Bossuit, which was displayed at an antiquities exhibition in Delft. Ivory is a material of deep historical resonance. Prized for its smooth texture and creamy hue, it has been carved into precious objects across cultures and eras. Van Bossuit’s panel demonstrates the material’s capacity for fine detail, with the artist employing specialized tools to achieve its refined relief. As a sculptor, he would have been acutely aware of the ethical dimensions of his chosen material. Ivory is, of course, sourced from elephants, connecting its use to labor, trade, and the fraught dynamics of colonial power. This photograph not only captures the artwork but also frames it within a social context, displayed in an exhibition of antiquities, inviting us to consider its historical value and cultural significance. Recognizing the complex history embedded in materials like ivory allows us to reflect on the choices artists make and the cultural meanings they carry.