"Hippo ivory"

[Green]

I have seen quite a few keris on sale with the description of the hilt as "hippo ivory". These keris are mostly either Bugis or Malay types.

Can anyone here explain what this means? As far as I know Hippo is hippopotamus and they are only present in africa and completely absent in this region (Malay peninsula or sulawesi/Indonesia) . what we do have is rhino which is quite different from hippo.

So, how did the Bugis/Malay craftsmen got the hippo ivory in the old days?
could the sellers be mistaken a rhino with a hippo? are hippo teeth the same as rhino teeth or are there obvious difference that we can distinguish rhino ivory from hippo ivory?

hope to get clarification from members here. Thanks

[Rick]

I would expect it came to the area via Arab Traders.
I don't believe any ivory product comes from Rhino; just horn.
Hippo ivory often shows a line of tiny black dots at one place on the surface of the tooth.
There is also Dugong ivory that would have been available locally; but the animal has been extinct for quite some time.

[A. G. Maisey]

I don't think dugong are extinct Rick.

Whales tooth makes really fine hilts.

[Gavin Nugent]

Green,

Not only Arab traders but also Portuguese as can be seen in this link providing such ivories to the ruling family of Flores...note one image there of some very large hippo teeth.

I know in 1954, the island of Sumba was travelled to by Balinese who were commissioned by those in power to provide carved elephant tusks.

Flores may have been a large trading centre for such things but I am sure there is other references out there suggesting the same in Malaysia. I am sure the trade was far and wide throughout the entire island regions.

Gavin

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=45

[mariusgmioc]

As in the oppinions above, the Hippopotamus ivory could get there via different trading routes.

However, it is equally possible that the hilts are made of diferent kinds of ivory and were simply wrongly labeled.

For example since there is such a big negative image associated to elephant ivory, some traders may feel they make their goods more saleable by labeling them as Hippo ivory. Or, since marine ivory tends to command lower prices, they may mislabel their goods as Hippo ivory in the hope they can get a better price.

Just guesswork and speculation...

[David]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

For example since there is such a big negative image associated to elephant ivory, some traders may feel they make their goods more saleable by labeling them as Hippo ivory. Or, since marine ivory tends to command lower prices, they may mislabel their goods as Hippo ivory in the hope they can get a better price.

Marius, while it is often difficult to determine types of ivory from photographs alone there are distinct differences between the appearance of elephant and hippo ivories. I would tend to doubt traders would be able to pass one off for the other.
In regards to marine ivory, it has always been preferable to me for it's look and color. I was unaware that it commanded lower prices than either hippo of elephant ivory.