What is French ivory?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
French ivory is a trade name for a celluloid plastic developed in the late 19th century as an imitation of natural ivory, mimicking its creamy colour and fine grain. It was used extensively from the 1880s through the mid-20th century for jewellery, hair combs, bangles and vanity sets, at a time when real ivory was expensive. French ivory is recognisable by its slightly warmer, more uniform colour and a faint parallel grain pattern, and it ages to a yellowed or brownish tint over the decades.
Frequently asked questions
- Is French ivory real ivory?
- No. French ivory is a celluloid plastic, an entirely synthetic material. It was made to look like ivory but contains no animal material at all. The name simply refers to the imitation, not the substance.
- How can you tell French ivory from real ivory?
- Real ivory has a distinctive cross-hatch or engine-turning pattern in cross-section called Schreger lines, which French ivory does not have. French ivory often shows fine parallel lines from the moulding or machining process, and it is lighter and slightly more plastic in feel than genuine ivory.
- Is French ivory valuable as an antique?
- French ivory vanity sets, hair combs and brooches from the Edwardian and Art Deco periods are collected and can have modest value as decorative antiques, particularly complete sets in good condition. The value is in their age and charm rather than the material itself.
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