Hello Moshah,
Thanks for the additional pics!
It looks like the akar bahar got stabilized and a few cavities patched up? (Was quartz sand used as a filler?)
Quote:
As Terengganu was basically a coastal country, it just make sense that the use of akar bahar are widely spread across it's region. Hence we have seen many akar bahar keris hilts in the "pipit teleng" or "anak ayam teleng" form - a hilt style associated with Terengganu's famous keris - the Keris Melela / Gelugor.
To me, as much as I loved abstract art, every akar bahar hilt was a surprise, a tell-tale pattern on styles that would never be the same, one after another. 
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That would make a great new thread, too! I have to admit that I can't claim having seen any number of old pipit teleng hilts made from AB.
The ideosyncracies of this organic material surely call for a very talented carver to make most out of each given piece!
Regards,
Kai