The Loango tusk is from the provenance of Congo in Central Africa on the Loango Coast. It was created sometime during the late 19th or early 20th centuries. The examination of the object on October 20, 2006 provided that the Loango tusk is made of elephant ivory and is a very delicate object. Because of the ivory construction, there is no apparent insect damage, fungal damage, or metal corrosion. The only losses are a small amount of minor chips at the bottom rim of the tusk.
The tusk is not painted and therefore appears to be in excellent condition thanks to not having pigments that could crack, flake, or fade. The tusk is not dirty, however sections of the ivory have become discolored or yellowed, most likely from previous handling without gloves. When the Loango tusk was photographed on October 20, 2006, clean gloves were worn and the utmost care was taken.
The Loango tusk was traded from the Congo Basin to the Mpumbu market and then to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. From the Cape of Good Hope, the tusk was traded to South Asia where Wilhelm Hamburger purchased it and taken back to Germany. It was finally donated to the University of Kansas in 2005 and has since been protected from oily hands in Spooner Hall’s archives.