View Single Post
Old 30th April 2011, 09:34 PM   #15
Gavin Nugent
Member
 
Gavin Nugent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
Default hilt

Gene, have a little look closer at the surfaces and cross section of surfaces..
The info below may help you work it out as you have the piece in hand.

The initial image showed a good possibility of marine ivory especially with the fluted waist. Your follow up images also indicated that it could be marine ivory despite that the medulla wasn't utalized, (Small edges of the Medulla could well be present under the backing silver depending on the size of a tusk used and where and how a tusk is cut). Your further images also indicated the possibility or Elephant ivory. When considering Elephant ivory the cross section should reveal the Lines of Retzius or engine tuning.
Attached Images
  
Gavin Nugent is offline   Reply With Quote