Moro Kriss With Clamshell Pommel

[CharlesS]

I had heard of clamshell being used as a material for Moro sword pommels but knew they were rare and had never seen one till the Baltimore show. Erik Farrow picked it out immediately! The carved shell almost comes across as marble. This example has a pretty standard blade. The hilt is dressed with typical silver fittings decorated in Moro motifs. Oddly, woven copper wire has been incorporated and woven into the more typical black corded grip wrap.

I am wondering if perhaps clamshell was a poor man's ivory, even though it was likely harder to work with.

[kronckew]

Giant clam?

[David]

As i mentioned elsewhere that you posted this i am of the opinion that Tridacna (giant clam shell) was considered a rare and valuable material all on it's own. If it was considered the "poor man's ivory" i would think we would see it more often. I have seen far more bone pommels, which is what i would call "poor man's ivory" used on kris than Tridacna. I would consider this a rare and valuable find.

[CharlesS]

I tend to agree David. Just the fact that this material is so difficult to work with would make it a rare find. No doubt, that bone was surely “the poor man’s ivory”. Thanks for your input, as always.

[Sajen]

Hello Charles,

Lovely piece! You always coming with the rarest pieces, thank you for sharing. And I would agree with David, tridacna is a rare and valuable material.

Regards,
Detlef