What feature makes ivory especially valuable in craftsmanship?

The characteristic that makes ivory particularly valuable in craftsmanship is its polishability. Ivory has a fine, dense grain that allows it to be polished to a high luster, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. This quality makes ivory highly sought after for intricate carvings and detailed work, as artisans can create smooth finishes that highlight the natural beauty of the material. Moreover, the ability to achieve such a brilliant polish means that ivory pieces can look remarkably elegant and visually striking, further increasing their value in artistic and commercial contexts.

While color, durability, and flexibility each have their own significance, they do not contribute to the craftsmanship of ivory in the same way that polishability does. For example, although ivory can have an attractive color, it's the ability to polish it to a high sheen that truly showcases the material’s potential in artistic creations. Similarly, while it possesses decent durability, many other materials can rival ivory in that regard, but few can match its polishability. Flexibility, on the other hand, is not a relevant feature of ivory, as it is a solid material rather than one that exhibits any significant flexibility.