The ability for ivory jungayan barongs to lose their cockatuas due to an inherent fragility of structual design (the cockatua is fastened to the puhan via a plug due to the size of the ivory needed in much the same way as many kris cockatua are attached) is unfortunately a common occurance. Given chipping and the rigors of a combat environment I could easily envisage this piece losing its cockatua due to wear and tear. I own one who has lost its cockatua, amongst other things (it is missing a 1/3" off the tip, someone ran through it with a belt grinder, and suffers pitting in the extreme). Ive also encountered a number of higher end jungayans that have replacement cockatuas, including my own ivory hilted barong.
Anyways, for a piece like this, that has already had some restoration done, I would vote for no further restoration, barring a new pristine ivory cockatua. If only for financial reasons alone. The cost of purchasing the amount of ivory needed to recarve a a new cockatua would be many times the cost of the barong itself, added to that would be the cost of finding an artisan capable of doing such work. If the barong had no restoration done, and was in rough shape like my own, I would vote for restoration of some kind. However, again the cost and artist prohibition against a new ivory cockatua are daunting. I really really really like Battara's ivory cockatua on your barong, and think if any restoration was to be done, that an silver alternative may be the most cost effective and still restore dignity to a piece. The simple silver cap on this piece though is also a nice alternative, if only a stop gap measure. Now of course, if one found a spare cockatua, or happened to have oodles of money laying around for an ivory purchase, that would change the situation. But in the end my argument is on a purely financially practical level. A new ivory cockatua may cost far far more than the fully restored barong itself. Anyways, there are enough unique features on this barong, that at least in my opinion as a novice collector, make it desirable in of in itself, and lend to the overall character of the piece thus negating the need for restoration. Hmmm...oh well Ive rambled. Anyways this is just my opinion. Ive left my own cockatualess barong cockatualess still because I cant decide what to do with it, so at least for me, restoration is a toughy decision. Then again I have a tendency not to completely restore pieces (eg. replace missing parts) just because the restoration always screams at me as being un-natural, no matter how well done. Preserve, fix the original parts as best I can, I can live with. But adding new parts always gnaws at my gut, making me question if I am doing the right thing, or if I am desecrating the piece. Oh wow talk about rambling.
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