Keris w Koranic writing on it

[Marcokeris]

Hello Ganapati
Is the gambar materia bufalo horn or wood?
If it's wood , has the gambar a stong sweet smell?
Nice keris

[Ganapati]

Its ivory from what I can tell will post more pics

[A. G. Maisey]

The gambar is the top section of the scabbard, in this case the part with script upon it.

The hilt certainly does look like ivory, but if this keris was imported into another country from England it cannot possibly be ivory.

If indeed it is ivory, perhaps the moderators might consider the implications?

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The hilt certainly does look like ivory, but if this keris was imported into another country from England it cannot possibly be ivory.

It looks like the hilt could be ivory to me as well, but we will know more when Ganapati posts some close-ups of it. I would not say that is impossible if that is the case. Rather i would say it is damn lucky you received it. It does seem old enough to qualify for antique ivory, but from the sounds of it there was no certification involved here so technically U.S. Customs would seize this if discovered.
Regarding all the rest i am pretty much in agreement with Alan. I am not sure what the seller might have been trying to imply with the suggestion that this was a "significant" keris. With a better fitted mendak, and perhaps a cloth to fill the opening in the pendok this is keris would certainly be a decent collection addition. It seems to be a decent blade in well made dress. The hilt, especially if ivory, is a fairly nice one, though i think it might look better turned 180º. I do hope though that you didn't have to pay extra for the "significant" factor.

[A. G. Maisey]

David, it is not just the seizure factor, there are very heavy penalties involved for both the sender & receiver of ivory that has been sent without the proper documentation. And where seizure occurs it involves the entire item that incorporates the ivory, not just the ivory.

I've been watching this ivory insanity since it began, now many years ago, I have seen reports of extreme penalties being enforced, particularly in the USA, and I know of two instances of heavy penalties that involved friends of mine.

This Forum is based in the USA, to my mind there could be some unfortunate implications if an open admission of illegal import by a member were to be noticed by the wrong people.

But I'm probably being over cautious, I believe that if Ganapati checks this hilt again it will turn out to be bone or denatured deer antler.

[David]

Hi folks. Well I have deleted the posts that displayed what I consider EXTREMELY rude and unnecessary remarks directed at a particular forum member here as well as the follow up remarks referencing the outburst. Obviously we have a zero tolerance policy for remarks of this nature.
Just a reminder to the membership, when incidents like this happen it is best to simply report the post (thanks Kai) than to respond to the violator as that only risks further outbursts..
Alan, I do understand your concerns about illegal ivory completely and know that your comments of caution were intended to protect the OP, not attack him.
Since the OP has left our ranks and there is not much else to be said about this keris that serves the community I will lock this thread and we can all move on. Thanks!