Hello Greg,
Quote:
|
So is this a good thing? In so far as is Hippo Ivory any more or less desirable in a Keris hilt (or any collectable item for that matter) than elephant tusk or whale tooth ivory? And how would it have found its way to the region?
|
Not really much of any difference, IMHO - quality of carving and condition being much more important nowadays.
In the Malay world, hippo has a reputation for staying white longer than the other ivories. It also is a tiny bit harder material, on average.
It's certainly the Arab merchants whose network connected Africa with Asia. We also see walrus and extinct mammoth ivory being utilized throughout Asia - maritime (as well as overland) trade has been the main player in connecting cultures for millennia...
Regards,
Kai