Tortoiseshell material

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tortoiseshell is a material that was widely used in the 1960s and 70s to make things from combs, to sunglasses, to guitar picks. However, in the late 70s the United Nations banned all trade of tortoiseshell worldwide. Tortiseshell mainly comes from the hawksbill turtle, an endangered species.

[edit] Uses

Tortoiseshell was used in a large variety of household items due to its beautiful appearance and durability. It was also used in guitar picks because it could be easily shaped, had excellent bending properties, and amazing durability (some tortoiseshell picks could be used for years).

Pique work, jewelry made from tortoiseshell inlaid with precious metals in patterns or pictures, was made during the Victorian Era and was highly prized.

[edit] Replacements

There have been a number of faux-tortoiseshell materials made since the 1970s, most of which mimic the appearance of tortoiseshell. Tortex is a material that was created to replace tortoiseshell guitar picks and has been widely accepted as a suitable substitute.

[edit] References

• Strieker, Gary (April 10, 2001). CNN.com - Sci-Tech (HTML). Tortoiseshell Ban Threatens Japanese Tradition. Retrieved on 2006-06-28.