“You pretty much have it all by now, don’t you?” Julia often states this when she asks what requests I have when she is at antique markets in the UK. I assured her that there are always new and different things for a collector like me to latch onto. Such was the case when I came across an antique ivory notebook.
I was looking through a beautiful book about Jefferson’s and saw a picture of an ivory notebook he carried around in his pocket. He would use it to write down notes, ideas, reminders, and fleeting thoughts. It’s sort of a 1700s combination of a pocket journal and a whiteboard. Quite clever, actually. Jefferson’s was used so often that lines of writing have been etched in the ivory.
I snapped a picture of the ivory notebook in my book and sent it to Julia. “This is a long shot, but how about keeping an eye out for one of these…”
I found a few in initial online searches, but they sold for way more than I would be willing to pay and the listings seemed few and far between. This would be a tall order and not one I really expected would ever be filled.
I should’ve known better than to doubt Julia’s skills as a finder of things. It’s like she has a spooky sixth sense. They should import her to Oak Island and let her put an X on the map. (If you know what I’m talking about, you know.)
Anyway, she was at a market and sent me a picture of what looked like an ivory notebook along with a price I would actually pay. She told me it was made of cow bone, which is actually better when it comes to shipping it to me (the sale of ivory, even antique ivory, is being banned in the UK) and it’s Victorian. It was delightful in the pictures, so I gave her the green light. As a side note, you can find reproduction ivory notebooks (like this one ), but I preferred something old. Naturally.
It’s not an antique ivory notebook, but it is exactly what I wanted and it’s absolutely breathtaking.
A bone and ivory notebook similar to this wasn’t just used by Thomas Jefferson but was used by housekeepers to write down schedules and reminders. Some of them have days of the week engraved on each “page.” These were also put to work as reuseable dance cards.
Isn’t it just beautiful? I know some people find things made out of bone to be sort of gross and I get that, but I think they are resourceful (assuming the bone would’ve been waste) and I’m fascinated by the process of carving bone into such thin layers and intricate designs. I also love the feel of carved and polished bone. It has this wonderfully smooth tactile feel.
I had a fun time photographing this antique bone notebook and I don’t mind a bit that it’s made of bone and not ivory.
I even took it for a spin with a silver pencil from the same era…
I wonder…would I have appreciated the beauty of a bone or ivory notebook if I lived in that time or would it have been as common as a cell phone or a Moleskine notebook? I’d like to think I would appreciate them, but I think the appeal comes from the fact that it’s old. It’s stood the test of time and shows ingenuity and craftsmanship from another era.
I put the bone notebook in my writing slope (which I still haven’t shared, yet) along with some of my other antique writing instruments, tools, supplies, and papers. It’s like a little treasure box and I feel like a kid tilting back the writing surface of their desk to admire the neatly arranged new school supplies.
Now that I can tick an ivory (bone) notebook off the list, I’ll have to find a new challenge for Julia…
There are a few bone notebooks on and if you’re interested.
If you have special shopping requests for Julia, you can send her a DM through her Instagram HERE.
21 Responses
This is wonderful! Have you seen the gorgeous mother of pearl gaming chips? Small round or rectangular carved and sometimes monogrammed “poker” chips from the 1800s. Another thing to collect!
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It’s always a pleasure sourcing for you Marian. Looking forward to the next challenge x
Julia
You are a marvel.
Oak Island? Heard of it all my life as my mom is from NS but I didn’t know it was so well known due to the recent TV show so I’m always surprised others know of it. Last trip to visit relatives gave us occasion to stop and see it during filming ?. Such a fun reminder to see you mentioned it here.
And what I’d like is a vintage or antique sealing wax stamp with our initials…. MP. Could you put that on her list? ha.
I have never seen nor heard of such a thing before. It is exquisite.
I can appreciate the liking of something just for its inherent beauty whether you can actually use it or not. I have an engraved silver cigarette case that I picked up somewhere over the years when I frequented auctions and the like – I like silver and silver plate anyway and have more of it than I need but still …
Part of the fun of beautiful objects like this is that you never even knew they existed! And yet, though utilitarian, someone bothered to make it intricate and detailed and a work of skilled art. A wonderful treasure and thanks to your blog, we all get to experience it!
I’m curious…are these notes erasable? And if so, how is that done?
Yes! They actually erase with an eraser. 🙂
I have one but not as fancy, but it has the days on the pages. Also beautiful pens and pencils in my collection. Thanks for sharing your goodies
How nifty it that? And it’s so beautifully carved. Enjoy it in your special treasure trove!
This is so spectacular! Do the pencil marks not smear & then do they erase well? I thought you would actually use it!
Fascinating ! I never knew they existed either and the one you acquired is gorgeous. What can one use to write on these and how are marks removed? I would be afraid of damaging it and thus destroying its value.
This is so lovely! Reminds me of an item Victorian women may have attached to a chatelaine, along with other useful household items such as scissors, thimble, keys, etc!
Oh my, that is absolutely stunning. What a treasure!
I never knew these existed. And I love how in that non disposable era, the items they owned were so beautiful.
Wow! I didn’t know these existed! Are the pages then made of very thin bone, paper, or vellum? Do the pins come out so that paper can be replaced, or did they just buy a new one? Glorious find.
The pages are made of very thin bone and you can erase the pencil from them to use over and over again. Really quite clever.
It is extraordinary, such a beautiful object.
That is amazing. Never knew of such a thing but it is very beautiful. What a treasure.
What a treasure! I love the Victorian era’s design. Today was a history lesson. Thank you.
I have a few that I have collected with my chatelaines. Another name for them is aide-mémoire.