colour variations on ivory

[Gustav]

A question: are such colour variations on an ivory hilt within norms or identificator of some "home" work?

[Sajen]

Hello Gustav,

I think that this hilt have a natural patination and nobody have done some home work on it. I have seen and read that Cirebon ivory handles are colered original black but I never have seen this by Madura handles. It is until today a mystery for me why some ivory handles after years still have a nearly white/cream colour and others are very dark. See for example this two Donoriko handles from my collection.

Best,

Detlef

[Marcokeris]

Some years ago I saw in Yogya a very big and long size elephant white ivory tooth. The owner told me it was from African elephant. There was together also a little yellow/brown ivory elephant tooth. I asked why a different colur: the owner told me it was from Sumatran elephant because these animals have yellow teeth.
I know that there are also different way to colur white ivory: one is to put ivory in strong tea water ..... there is also another way (in Africa was rather usual)... is to put ivory in organic yellow liquid for some days

[Berkley]

Several decades ago I rescued this piece from a jeweler who planned to cut it into thin slices to make scrimshawed pendants . I think it is safe to say that the color is natural.

[Gustav]

Thank you Detlef, Marco, Berkley.

I assume, my elefant must be of very mixed origins .

[Sajen]

I think that this different colouring is very common by old ivory. Here an other example fom my collection, a Jawa Deman handle from Sumatra.