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Old 31st October 2012, 07:25 AM   #4
T. Koch
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mother North
Posts: 189
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Very nice piece - thanks for showing it! I have no input as to origin or age, so I'll sit back, watch and learn.

Regarding the material for the hilt, judging from the pics, I am not sure that it is ivory - the pores and nature of the cracks indicate some kind of bone. When bone gets very old and handled a lot, it will sometimes obtain a beautiful warm glow like we see here.

If you'd like, try taking a picture from the pommel-end. A pic from this angle might tell more. What is the length of the hilt, 12-14 cm?

Regarding the possibility of dugong ivory, I still haven't seen an example of this material used for a weapon hilt, and will remain highly skeptical of it's stated use in this way, until presented with evidence of the contrary.


Best wishes, - Thor
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