What early industrial material offered a cheaper, sustainable alternative to natural ivory for mass button production?
Answer
Vegetable ivory (tagua nut)
With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, there was a need for materials that could be sourced in high volume yet retain desirable aesthetic qualities. Vegetable ivory, derived from the tagua nut, fit this need perfectly. It possessed characteristics that allowed it to be carved and dyed effectively, closely mimicking natural ivory, but it offered significant advantages in terms of cost efficiency and sustainable sourcing necessary for the rising demands of factory production lines.
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