(SOLD) This is a tamper that I had to do, and to do it properly I knew that I'd need to find a beautifully patterned piece of mammoth. After working with mammoth for three or four years I've gotten to know what is where on a tusk. Deep into the tusk is the more evenly patterned one colored ivory that shows the subtle beautiful grain that puts on a wondeful show. Out towards the bark one finds the more colored patterns that can vary from cream to brown to blue hues, often with amber colored inclusions, areas that add so much visual interest. On this tamper I was able to ofer you a piece that puts on both shows at once depending on the side viewed. Getting a pptern like this can be tricky business! On the brown side early on there was a good amount of blue ivory that unfortunately had to go. A shame. Had I gone a little further all of that wonderful brown pattern would have been lost, but I worked hard to preserve it. As you can see, on the other side you have the more white creamy pattern showing nice grain that doesn't really show in the photo. There is one teeny tiny pin prick inclusion that is a natural part of the grain, one that leaves a perfectly smooth surface, and isn't at all an issue.

The shape is just as I planned, a nice little Arashi that, as you can see, also has a flat profile offering a different feeling of a shape when viewed from the side. This will be a great fit in most any bowl other than very deep stacks. As will be the case from now on with all ivory tamps, this piece has been left virgin without a logo. For more information on that decision check out my blog entry for 1/14.

Note: Just to answer a question that has been asked by some, the brown areas on the tamp do show ivory grain and are perfecty smooth, the same smooth glassy finish as the rest of the tamp.

This tamp will be accompanied by a Neil Flancbaum crafted buckskin leather pouch. The retail price includes domestic USPS Priority Mail shipping.