Thanks Alan .

It would be recent David. The patination is no trick at all. Even the appearance of old ivory with a judicial crack here and there is no trick.

Personally I like this sort of thing very much. As Marco says, this style of work is very expensive, but it is often exquisite.

Don't get me wrong:- I like simplicity too, and I like something that only prioritises the excellence of carving, but in really topline Bali dress the very best is most often really over the top. Its a cultural thing:- understatement is just not the Balinese way. Perhaps our natural inclination might be for quiet excellence, but that just doesn't fit with the exhuberance of Balinese art.

Well, i would say that i completely dislike this sort of thing either. Here are a couple more examples of this type of work from the Adrien Noe collection. I'm pretty fond of the one done up in silver. :)

Oh that's funny, i just realized that the first one i posted is the same as the one that Marco posted. :o Well, at least now we know (or at least Marco does) where part of the collection ended up. :)
I like it a little better in the pics i posted (goes to show what good photography can do), but i still prefer the silver one for my own sensibilities. :)

And here's one more that i believe is gold over ebony. :)

If this is truly from the Noe Collection i guess the work can't be too recent. As far as i know he amassed most of his collection in the 1950s-60s. :shrug:

Thanks David, for the different set of pictures of that hilt .
Now I get how the gold work is attached . :)

Hello David,

why do you think that the gold work is more recent? I am not sure that it is like this. :shrug:
I am nearly sure that you can find in old collections hilt's like this which are completly original. Or I am wrong by this? :confused:

sajen

I think you're saying that this hilt is perhaps not so recent, aren't you David?

Yes, it may not be made the day before yesterday, and with that sort of provenance it could date back a little, but this style of hilt is extremely rare amongst old pieces, and not at all uncommon amongst more recent pieces. I think I've only ever seen two of this style that definitely dated to pre-WWII, and neither of them were as refined as the dozens that I have seen that are from current production.

But still, my remarks on false aging are still valid. They may or may not apply to this piece, but it is certain that all which appears to be old in ivory, need not necessarily be so.

Oh, i have no doubt that your remarks are correct on the aging of new ivory. I am not trying to suggest that this hilt has any great age, but if it was collected in the 50s-60s it could 50-60 years old. The Noe collection, or at least the people who were dealing with the sale of this collection dated this piece to mid 19th century, a dating i am somewhat suspicious of.
Sajen, my statement about the gold being newer than the ivory was more based on the way it looks in the first photos posted of the hilt. I get a different impression from the second set of photos i posted. :)

Thanks David for nice pics. Yes i think the two ivory/gold hits are twins made by the same artist. (when i'll be in Bali again i'll try to know something more about.....if i try )
About the way (before or after)to put (or to work) the gold /silver over the hit ....
...i have a very very very old (nyamba?) hit with over a little piece of something like white gold (?). This hit could be very interesting for discussion..i'll try to do some pics soon

Marco, do you really think they are twins by the same artist. I am pretty sure they are the same exact hilt. The Noe Collection was sold off back in 1995 AFAIK and i am sure that parts of it are all over the place.

Hello David,

it seems to be the same hilt, look the crack in the forefinger of the right hand.

sajen

David i have seen better (sorry...i'm not young ... my brain sometimes goes in other places :o ) you are right! the hits are the same!! Mr. Noe had really very good eyes!

Here's one of mine that I forgot I had; its silver over buffalo horn.

The other one is from the Neka Musium in Bali. I was there a few months back. Very difficult to photograph things because of all the reflections and deep shadows but I did get a lot of pics of hilts and other bits and pieces. When I get a chance I'll make them all available in my site.

And here an example from dark wood with silver, some fast taken pictures.

Gentlemen,
Thank you for sharing your photos of the hilts,a wonderful selection.

Glad you are enjoying them Paul and welcome to the forum. :)