GUNONG on EBAY

[Spunjer]

yeah, recent. it's an industry in Lanao del sur, specifically Tugaya. lots of these can be found in Davao and Ermita, the new antique district in Manila. here are some pics of locals in action:

http://www.pbase.com/timonera/tugaya&page=all

[David]

Thanks for that link Ron. It's exactly what i was looking for.

[Spunjer]

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[Battara]

Great pictures. Also explains the ivory hilts on these new pieces.

No offense, but I do find it disturbing that they have acquired illegal ivory from recently killed elephants..........

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Battara

No offense, but I do find it disturbing that they have acquired illegal ivory from recently killed elephants..........

Don't dispair so easily, the ivory could have come from trimming of tusks and other avenues.

[David]

Originally Posted by freebooter

Don't dispair so easily, the ivory could have come from trimming of tusks and other avenues.

Gav, at least one of the images in the gallery Ron linked shows an ivory tusk in the foreground, so not trimmings.
Pretty sure the gunong that i originally posted is indeed bone, not ivory, but photos are difficult to figure with that ID at times, especially after the material has been processed and stained to give an antique effect.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by David

Gav, at least one of the images in the gallery Ron linked shows an ivory tusk in the foreground, so not trimmings.
Pretty sure the gunong that i originally posted is indeed bone, not ivory, but photos are difficult to figure with that ID at times, especially after the material has been processed and stained to give an antique effect.

We all know there are issues with ivory trade but alarm bells do not always need to be rung.

The small tusk in the photo shows to be cut clean. This is very rarely the case with poached ivory, where the entire tusk is removed from the dead Elephant.

Here is one such example of cut tusks;
http://www.asianelephantresearch.com...-Infection.php

Gav

[Nathaniel]

Originally Posted by Battara

Great pictures. Also explains the ivory hilts on these new pieces.

No offense, but I do find it disturbing that they have acquired illegal ivory from recently killed elephants..........

Speaking of which that just reminded me that in this last October 2012 there was a good article written up in National Geographic called Blood Ivory, which detailed that current status of the illegal ivory trade. China, Thailand and the Philippines where highlighted as major consumers of ivory. Here is the article. If you get a chance take a look at the actual magazine as there are some more graphs and photos.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/20...y/christy-text

[Nathaniel]

And a similar article was published in March 2012 in the National Geographic called Rhino Wars

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/20...wars/gwin-text