So what is the source of the ivory for these new hilts? Personally i am not too keen on newly made ivory items due to the protected status of the source animals. While i realize that there is a certain amount of legal ivory trade, many authorities feel that the legal trade encourages more poaching due to increased demand for the material. Once we get to the finished carved hilt, how do we know if the material is legal or black market? I would image that getting paperwork on these hilts to pass CITES requirements for customs might be a bit difficult.
The carving on these is certainly intricate, though it seems to lack the skill and finesse of older examples i have seen in a similar style. Interesting, though i suppose not surprising, that these are not Lombok of Bali style hilts in spite of their origin.
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