keris hilt

paolo · 18th December 2015, 03:38 PM

Thank You Jean for the inputs. About the peksi hole, I tried to photographe it, but the pic was too bad. It seems to have some porosity in the upper part, but may, also be tool marks (left by the drill).
Paolo

David · 18th December 2015, 05:01 PM

I am not seeing any Schreger lines which are generally found on elephant ivory. That would be a telltale with you powdered ivory and other material mixture Green that would distinguish it from the real thing. But this is most probably antler or bone. Bone will not always be porous depending upon what bone is used. It is easier to distinguish bone from antler in hand than in most photographs.
I would agree that this is a fairly contemporary hilt made anytime within the last 30-40 years. The hair/headdress of this figure seems unusual for Balinese culture so perhaps this has some Thai or Chinese influence at work.

18th December 2015, 03:38 PM	#1
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Thank You Jean for the inputs. About the peksi hole, I tried to photographe it, but the pic was too bad. It seems to have some porosity in the upper part, but may, also be tool marks (left by the drill). Paolo

18th December 2015, 05:01 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,044	I am not seeing any Schreger lines which are generally found on elephant ivory. That would be a telltale with you powdered ivory and other material mixture Green that would distinguish it from the real thing. But this is most probably antler or bone. Bone will not always be porous depending upon what bone is used. It is easier to distinguish bone from antler in hand than in most photographs. I would agree that this is a fairly contemporary hilt made anytime within the last 30-40 years. The hair/headdress of this figure seems unusual for Balinese culture so perhaps this has some Thai or Chinese influence at work.