My gunong collection and some thoughts

[Sajen]

First, thank you Robert for you thoughts about the gunong, second for the good pictures I've received from you.

Here a few of this pictures. Robert and I am very unsure about the handle material, it's almost looks to my eyes like walrus ivory but I am very, very unsure. Any thoughts?

[Iain]

My entirely uneducated opinion also says walrus, or at least marine ivory.

[Ian]

Sajen:

In the close up of the handle the little black dots visible, especially towards the end of the hilt, look like Haversian canals in cross section. This suggests that the handle is made from bone rather than a form of ivory.

Walrus ivory is extremely rare in the Philippines and would, I think, be restricted to high end, expensive weapons. I have not seen a convincing example of walrus ivory on a moro weapon. However, I have seen what was said to be dugong ivory on the pommel of a datu quality kris.

Ian.

[David]

I'm with Ian. This looks like bone to me.

[Sajen]

Thank you all for comment!
You could be correct that it is bone. It was just a thought since the ones I have seen with bone pommels has had a top cap to cover the inner porosity.

Regards,
Detlef

[David]

Originally Posted by Sajen

It was just a thought since the ones I have seen with bone pommels has had a top cap to cover the inner porosity.

That's a good point Detlef. I hadn't considered that. Still, it does not look like any ivory i have ever seen and the porousness and black dots on the material does look a lot like bone.

[Battara]

Take it from a bone head, this is bone.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

Take it from a bone head, this is bone.

Hi Jose,

think that you are correct.

Best regards,
Detlef