My second gunong...

russel · 14th April 2014, 09:21 PM

Of course it could be ivory, the images aren't quite clear enough for me to tell.

Robert · 15th April 2014, 02:27 AM

Hello Russel, I'm thinking that the hilt material on your new gunong looks more likely to be tridacna than ivory or bone. Now this is based only on the photos you have posted and because of their quality I could very easily be wrong. In the second photo where the hilt meets the ferrule there is a gap and the color of the material that can be seen there looks too white to me to be ivory. Also the overall soft look to the material remind me of oxidized shell more than it does of old dry ivory. I would say that this piece dates to the first quarter of the 20th century. My congratulation to you on this very nice new addition to your growing collection of gunongs.

I'll be very interested to see new photos of it after it arrives and you have had a chance to clean it up a bit just to see if the metal on the scabbard and ferrule are silver of not.

Best,
Robert

russel · 11th May 2014, 11:28 PM

My second gunong arrived safely. While I had my fingers crossed that the hilt would be Tridacna , I am nonetheless pleased that it is ivory. The attached image (in morning sunlight) clearly shows Schreger lines.

I am very pleased with my new addition. More photos to follow when better light permits.

Battara · 12th May 2014, 03:09 AM

Yup. That's elephant ivory........

russel · 12th May 2014, 03:26 AM

More photos as promised. I am curious what others think the central metal band on the scabbard may be made from. It certainly isn't silver. Nickel?

Robert · 12th May 2014, 05:55 AM

Wonderful, now that you have it in hand and there are clear photos I agree totally with Jose that it is indeed elephant ivory. As for the center section of the scabbard, could you show a photo of the seam, is it a hard metal or a very soft one? Could it possibly be made of a tin alloy like pewter?

Best,
Robert

Sajen · 12th May 2014, 09:58 AM

Hello Russel,
very nice gunong! Congats! Agree, clearly elephant ivory.
The middle section of the scabbard could be some sort of german silver.

Regards,
Detlef

11th May 2014, 11:28 PM	#3
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Ivory! My second gunong arrived safely. While I had my fingers crossed that the hilt would be Tridacna , I am nonetheless pleased that it is ivory. The attached image (in morning sunlight) clearly shows Schreger lines. I am very pleased with my new addition. More photos to follow when better light permits. Attached Images Last edited by russel; 11th May 2014 at 11:29 PM. Reason: Spelling error

12th May 2014, 03:26 AM	#5
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	More photos as promised. I am curious what others think the central metal band on the scabbard may be made from. It certainly isn't silver. Nickel? Attached Images

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14th April 2014, 09:21 PM	#1
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Of course it could be ivory, the images aren't quite clear enough for me to tell.

15th April 2014, 02:27 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Russel, I'm thinking that the hilt material on your new gunong looks more likely to be tridacna than ivory or bone. Now this is based only on the photos you have posted and because of their quality I could very easily be wrong. In the second photo where the hilt meets the ferrule there is a gap and the color of the material that can be seen there looks too white to me to be ivory. Also the overall soft look to the material remind me of oxidized shell more than it does of old dry ivory. I would say that this piece dates to the first quarter of the 20th century. My congratulation to you on this very nice new addition to your growing collection of gunongs. I'll be very interested to see new photos of it after it arrives and you have had a chance to clean it up a bit just to see if the metal on the scabbard and ferrule are silver of not. Best, Robert

12th May 2014, 03:09 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Yup. That's elephant ivory........

12th May 2014, 05:55 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Wonderful, now that you have it in hand and there are clear photos I agree totally with Jose that it is indeed elephant ivory. As for the center section of the scabbard, could you show a photo of the seam, is it a hard metal or a very soft one? Could it possibly be made of a tin alloy like pewter? Best, Robert

12th May 2014, 09:58 AM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	Hello Russel, very nice gunong! Congats! Agree, clearly elephant ivory. The middle section of the scabbard could be some sort of german silver. Regards, Detlef