ELEPHANT IVORY
The image of elephants has appeared in Vietnamese culture for 2-3 thousand years, depicted on Dong Son bronze drums. During the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225 AD), elephant images appeared frequently on ceramic products.
During the Nguyen Dynasty, elephants were incorporated into the royal army, comparable to the role of tanks and armored vehicles today.
Therefore, the Nguyen Dynasty issued an edict on elephant conservation. Ivory was only exploited from elephants that died due to old age, sacrificed on the battlefield, shed their tusks naturally, or from elephant tusks given as gifts and tributes by neighboring countries.
This was to raise people’s awareness of the conservation of this rare animal.
Only the royal family had the exclusive right to exploit ivory. Hunting elephants would be severely punished.
Because of its rarity, ivory was considered equivalent to gold during the Nguyen Dynasty.
In addition to being made into jewelry and luxury items, ivory was also used to make seals – national treasures such as the seal of King Tu Duc (1867-1883).
Ivory was also used to make palace passes for princes and high-ranking officials.
