Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

A. G. Maisey · 14th October 2011, 11:05 PM

I did not say that the black hilt was made for use, I only said it was a keris hilt as opposed to a pestle handle.

I also said:- "An enormous amount of small sculptures in the form of hilts have been available in Bali and Lombok over the last 30 years; a lot of things produced in Lombok are sold in Bali."

Now what does that tell us?

Black horn with white areas?

Nothing unusual. It can be original to the horn, it can be the result of coming into contact with some chemical. Light areas on dark horn do not necessarily indicate long use nor age. Based upon what I've seen for sale in Bali I'd date this black hilt to no earlier than about 1980.

Detlef, I can only provide an opinion on what I've seen, and in my opinion this black hilt is exactly like the things that were coming out of Lombok a few years back and being sold in the tourist traps around Kuta and Legian. I see less of them these days.

14th October 2011, 11:05 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,718	I did not say that the black hilt was made for use, I only said it was a keris hilt as opposed to a pestle handle. I also said:- "An enormous amount of small sculptures in the form of hilts have been available in Bali and Lombok over the last 30 years; a lot of things produced in Lombok are sold in Bali." Now what does that tell us? Black horn with white areas? Nothing unusual. It can be original to the horn, it can be the result of coming into contact with some chemical. Light areas on dark horn do not necessarily indicate long use nor age. Based upon what I've seen for sale in Bali I'd date this black hilt to no earlier than about 1980. Detlef, I can only provide an opinion on what I've seen, and in my opinion this black hilt is exactly like the things that were coming out of Lombok a few years back and being sold in the tourist traps around Kuta and Legian. I see less of them these days.