Another Gamble
 

Just pulled the trigger on this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=170892567788

Seller only has 4 feedback .
I wasn't going to quibble price over work that looks as good as this (hopefully) .

Will keep you all advised . :D

Hello Rick,

think you will be happy when you have it in your hands, have bought this one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15781 from the same seller and I like the handle, well carved and very ok by the price I have paid.

Regards,

Detlef

Nice new carving. I was looking at that one myself. :-)

IT LOOKS GOOD TO ME AND THAT QUALITY CARVING AT THAT PRICE THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD LOOSE WOULD BE IF IT WAS CHEAP WOOD COVERED WITH BLACK SHOE POLISH (USUALLY SEEN IN AFRICAN CARVINGS NOT BALI) OR BLACK RESIN LIKE THAT SEEN USED TO MAKE TIKIS FOR HAWAIIAN TOURISTS. (AGAIN NOT LIKELY) I SUSPECT IT IS A GOOD HEAVY HARD BLACK WOOD WHICH IS NOT A CHEAP OR EASY MATERIAL TO WORK WITH. TO MAKE IT SHORT I LIKE IT. OOPS TOO LATE :D

I thought that it was the same carver, Detlef .
After seeing your example I figured it was worth the purchase . :)

Catch new artists when they're on their ascendency ... and still affordable . ;)

Agree!! ;) :)

Rangda
 

This one just arrived .
The wood is quite interesting, very dense , heavy and quite black .

Any ideas on the species ?

The carving is quite good ! :cool:

The other one :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170897230222...84.m1562.l2649

is on the way . :cool:

Hello Rick,

I am unsure about the wood species. :shrug: I don't think that it is ebony. Maybe coloured? We should ask the seller.

The second hilt you bought is also very nice.

Regards,

Detlef

Hello Rick,

the seller respond to my query like this:" Yes, The Ganesha Hilt is made from Areng Wood,you can see the inside of the wood from the pesi hole, it's all black.or try to make to pesi hole bigger, than you will see the small piece of the wood from the drill."

And further:"Please note that Areng Wood id different with Ebony.Ebony much harder than Areng wood, and Areng wood is somekind like altenatif of EbonySince Ebony is hard to find the material and the moment and Areng wood is way much easier to carved.So Areng wood is the favourite wood for carving at the moment."

I have asked him if the hilt is from Kayu Areng since I have thought that it is Ebony but it seems that I am wrong. I think that in Indonesia is black wood is just called Kayu Areng. :shrug:

Regards,

Detlef

Is the hilt maker from Madura?

Hi Marco,

no, from Bali! :)

The pictures from the second hilt for later reference.

And here again the picture from my Ganesha handle from the same carver.

Thank you for putting those up, Detlef . :)
Family/business issues are keeping me distracted these days othherwise I would have posted them myself .

Again thanks for the thoughtful additions .

Rick

Nothing to thank Rick! Have you seen post #9?

Regards,

Detlef

Yes, I have it from a good source that this wood is actually a member of the Ebony family of woods and a staple of Bali Carvers . :)