Conservation and restoration of ivory objects

Okay kiddo, so you know how some animals have really special teeth called tusks that are really long and cool-looking? Well, sometimes people take those tusks from the animals and use them to make things like jewelry and statues.

But sometimes those things get old or damaged and need to be fixed up. That's where conservation and restoration come in.

Conservation is when someone works to keep an object in good condition over time. They might use special materials to clean it and protect it from sunlight, heat and bugs. They also might put it in a special case or room with just the right temperature and humidity so it doesn't get too hot, cold, or dry.

Restoration is when someone works to repair an object that's gotten broken or damaged in some way. For example, if a statue made out of ivory gets a crack or chip, someone might use special tools and glue to fix it up so it looks like new again.

But ivory is a special material because it comes from animals that are sometimes endangered. That means not everyone is allowed to work with it or fix it up, and there might be special laws that say what can and can't be done with ivory objects.