Sumatra keris with ivory parts

Paul B. · 1st February 2022, 01:08 PM

More pics will tell you. It has light shades. Marine ivory was my first guess also but what kind of is it?
Wonder why there is a straight (repaired) line in the front and back. Seems more like a lack of material than a broken part. A closer look also tells me that the structure does not continue in the patched parts.

David · 1st February 2022, 03:15 PM

Well, you have grain, but it does not look like the Schreger pattern we find in elephant ivory, so i am still inclined towards marine ivory. It does not display characteristics of hippo and i'm not sure you will find pieces this large to work fro dugong. So i would assume probably whale tooth.

Paul B. · 1st February 2022, 04:02 PM

Agree, it isn't elephant and belief it is some kind of marine ivory. Could sperm whale be an option?
The handle is heavy and big (length about 11 cm).

Sajen · 1st February 2022, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B.

Could sperm whale be an option?
The handle is heavy and big (length about 11 cm).

Yes Paul, I think that it's sperm whale. The wrongko seems to be from elephant ivory and I agree that the put on pieces are made by lack of material.

Regards,
Detlef

PS: very nice Minangkabau keris. Can we see the blade?

Paul B. · 2nd February 2022, 01:14 PM

My impression is that both materials are alike but I could be mistaken.
Here are a few shots more.
Quite a big Minang keris, overall 47 cm.
Indeed a typical Burung shaped handle from the Minangkabau highlands.

David · 2nd February 2022, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Yes Paul, I think that it's sperm whale. The wrongko seems to be from elephant ivory and I agree that the put on pieces are made by lack of material.

Regards,
Detlef

PS: very nice Minangkabau keris. Can we see the blade?

I'm not convinced the wrongko is elephant ivory. It has a grain, but those are not Schreger patterns as far as i can see.
Paul, this is a very beautiful keris over all.

Paul B. · 2nd February 2022, 02:45 PM

Agree, I vote for sperm whale (both parts).
The warangka has a similar bright 'hot spot' underneath the vertical carving as the handle does.

I wonder to whom this keris have belonged referring to dress and size.

Paul B. · 2nd February 2022, 03:51 PM

Another pic.

1st February 2022, 01:08 PM	#1
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	More pics will tell you. It has light shades. Marine ivory was my first guess also but what kind of is it? Wonder why there is a straight (repaired) line in the front and back. Seems more like a lack of material than a broken part. A closer look also tells me that the structure does not continue in the patched parts. Attached Images

2nd February 2022, 01:14 PM	#5
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	My impression is that both materials are alike but I could be mistaken. Here are a few shots more. Quite a big Minang keris, overall 47 cm. Indeed a typical Burung shaped handle from the Minangkabau highlands. Attached Images

2nd February 2022, 02:45 PM	#7
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	Agree, I vote for sperm whale (both parts). The warangka has a similar bright 'hot spot' underneath the vertical carving as the handle does. I wonder to whom this keris have belonged referring to dress and size. Last edited by Paul B.; 2nd February 2022 at 03:49 PM.

2nd February 2022, 03:51 PM	#8
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	Another pic. Attached Images

1st February 2022, 03:15 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Well, you have grain, but it does not look like the Schreger pattern we find in elephant ivory, so i am still inclined towards marine ivory. It does not display characteristics of hippo and i'm not sure you will find pieces this large to work fro dugong. So i would assume probably whale tooth.

1st February 2022, 04:02 PM	#3
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	Agree, it isn't elephant and belief it is some kind of marine ivory. Could sperm whale be an option? The handle is heavy and big (length about 11 cm).