Tagua has the same creamy look and satiny texture of ivory, but because it comes from the nut of the Tagua Palm, it is elephant-friendly and ecologically sustainable. Like ivory, it acquires a natural yellow patina with age, but it is less brittle. It has been used as a substitute for ivory for over 200 years, often in buttons and other fine decorative objects. These knobs are hand-carved by Ecuadorian artisans, so no two pieces are exactly alike.