European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A photos by Pete Milia tusks on display in the Ivory museum of Erbach a medieval town in the Odenwald that has become West Germany s Ivory carving Center. Rce Moon Maiden carved from Ivory in Erbach. Ivory Artisan Rudolf Schwinn carving a Parade of horses on part of an elephant Tusk. By Amalia Lopez staff writer Cain and Abel at the Ivory museum. Page 14 the stars and stripes t s hard to believe that the terrifying tusks of the african elephant can be magically transformed into Beautiful delicately detailed roses. No we re not in never never land where elves nymphs and Good and evil witches Buzz through the air nor Are we buzzing after smoking a magi Cal Weed. We Are in the medieval town of Erbach Germany and the magicians Are the local Ivory Carvers who turn the tusks into cameos brooches necklaces pendants plat ters figurines goblets and just about anything else Youcan think of. The great wizard who introduced this Trade to Erbach now Germany s Ivory carving Center More than 200 years ago was a local Nobleman named count Franz i. The count returned from a tour of Italy enchanted with the Art of Ivory carving in Venice. He Learned the Craft himself and turned others on to the Art in his town Inthewoods Odenwald. Between the Rhine main and Neckar Rivers the Oden Wald is easily accessible from Frankfurt or Heidelberg. Many of the count s creations can be seen in the Elfenbein museum in the fest Halle in Erbach along with More recent works done by local nimble Fin gered Ivory Carvers from Erbach and . One of their favorite designs is the Erbacher Rose a brooch or Pendant in the form of a Rose. This first was conjured up by Johann Michel in the Middle of the 19th Century. In 1873 at the world s fair in Vienna Friedrich Hartmann an Erbach wizard was awarded a Brone medal for his enchanting Ivory Rose. The Craft is carried on today in various shops in Erbach and Michel Stadt each with a master Carver along with a few enthusiastic apprentices. To became an Ivory Carver still involves a three year apprenticeship and you can attend a Small Ivory and Wood carving school in Michel Stadt which is usually filled to capacity. The Ivory is imported from Africa via a belgian trading company at a Cost of about 200 Marks a kilo or about $41 a Pound. In the Odenwald you Are guaranteed that All products labelled As such Are 100 per cent Ivory and Are 100 per cent hand carved according to Franz Pawlicek of the Erbach City tourist office. In Erbach we Don t want to hear anything about plastic we Don t touch the  according to Pawlicek genuine Ivory has tiny thin lines resembling those of tree rings or Finger prints. Imitations Are Clear and solid White. Ivory should not be exposed to direct dry heat because it might crack and leaving it in the dark too Long could result in the yellowing of the piece but if left in the Day Light the natural color will come Back. The Art of carving up elephant tusks goes Back much further than the two centuries in Erbach. A tiny head of a woman carved from a piece of Mammoth tooth estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000 years old was found at Brasse soupy France and is the oldest known such artefact. Proving that Ivory carving has been bewitching people since ancient times. Figures carved by local Nobleman who brought Ivory carving to Erbach tuesday september 20, 1977 Ivory museum exhibits also fascinate the Young. The stars and stripes Page 15