FROM THE PICTURES I THOUGHT THE SAME AND EXPECTED SOMETHING MORE RECENT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. BUT AFTER TAKING A CLOSE LOOK THRU THE MICROSCOPE IT LOOKS OLD. THE HAIR CORD IS OLD AND BRITTLE AND FRAYED THE FIRST TWO SHARK TEETH ARE WORN WHICH TAKES A LOT OF USE AS THEY ARE HARD. THE WOOD SHOWS WEAR AND AGE DISCOLORATION AND THERE ARE GROOVES IN SOME AREAS THAT LOOK LIKE THE MARKS LEFT WHEN USING RATS TEETH FOR CARVING TOOLS. THE TWO FINGER HOLES LOOK REMARKABLY ROUND BUT ARE NOT PERFECTLY ROUND THEY SHOW NO EVIDENCE OF MODERN TOOLS. THE HOLES IN THE SHARK TEETH APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MADE WITH PRIMATIVE TOOLS AND NO TWO ARE ALIKE.
IF IT IS A RECENTLY MADE REPLICA MADE FOR SALE THE ONE MAKING IT WAS AN EXPERT AND HE REALLY KNEW HIS STUFF AND PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT. THE ONLY THING I SEE THAT LOOKS MORE RECENT IS WHAT APPEARS TO BE SHELLAC OR SOMETHING ON THE END KNOTS ON THE HAIR CORDS LIKELY TO PUT THERE TO PRESERVE THEM.
NEW OR OLD I LIKE IT
AND HOPEFULLY WITH LUCK WE WILL SEE A GOOD PROVENANCED EXAMPLE TO BE FOUND SO WE CAN IDENTIFY THE FORM AND USE OF THE ITEM AND PERHAPS EVEN THE ORIGIN.