These are assorted hippopotamus tagua nut carvings.
As these are hand carved items there will be slight variations from piece to piece. There will also be variation in the color and texture of the carvings. Just as the wood grain varies in trees, the composition of each tagua nut can present variations. For example, some pieces may have lines or marks due to the natural grain of the nut. When tagua nuts are heated, they will become a darker brown color and some will darken in some places more than others. Some tagua nuts are more cream-colored, whereas others are more white. The nuts have, and will also develop, a natural patina, which can be more pronounced in some than in others. This is the beauty of working with natural materials -- each piece is a little bit unique!
Tagua nuts are harvested in South America from the tagua palm, also known as ivory palm or ivory-nut palm. This fair trade product helps reduce the demand sustaining the illegal ivory trade, and these handmade collectibles are environmentally friendly and meant to be treasured.