Is this a whale's tooth?

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by Rick

Bone.
Let's see the end of the handle.
The dentine of Walrus is very different from Sperm Whale dentine.

Hopefully this is good enough for a positive ID. The lighting in my home office is not very good. Thanks for the help!

[Rick]

If bone I'd expect to see a porous end on this handle. Of course these handles are sometimes capped with an insert, but I can't make one out.

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by Rick

If bone I'd expect to see a porous end on this handle. Of course these handles are sometimes capped with an insert, but I can't make one out.

Thank you for trying. I can't identify it either. The size and shape made me think it might be a tooth. Keep in mind that I would not know one if it bit me! I have only been collecting a couple of years and am reasonably certain I have never held a piece of ivory before. I won't rule bone out. It looks worn down and seems old. Any suggestions for an age? Thanks again for the help!

Happy new year!
Harry

[Battara]

Tooth of just about any animal does not have the type of striations that this has. These striations belong to bone. Some bone chosen does not have ends that are not so porous, depending upon the cut of bone.

Besides, whale tooth is grayer in color with layers.

My vote: bone (or less likely antler).

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by Battara

Tooth of just about any animal does not have the type of striations that this has. These striations belong to bone. Some bone chosen does not have ends that are not so porous, depending upon the cut of bone.

Besides, whale tooth is grayer in color with layers.

My vote: bone (or less likely antler).

Many thanks to yourself, Vandoo, Rick and others. I will put this one down as bone. I appreciate the help, and am fine with it being bone. I like this one. The hilt is worn enough that it feels incredibly smooth. I am guessing it has some age. Do you think I would be way off to think it is early 20h?

[Jean]

I would like to see the peksi hole (decaying/ pitting or not?) before giving a more definite opinion but would guess for either tanduk rusa (deer antller) or whale bone (not tooth). The origin of the piece is probably East Java and from the patina its age may be about 100 years indeed.
Regards

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by Jean

I would like to see the peksi hole (decaying/ pitting or not?) before giving a more definite opinion but would guess for either tanduk rusa (deer antller) or whale bone (not tooth). The origin of the piece is probably East Java and from the patina its age may be about 100 years indeed.
Regards

Hi Jean,
I am afraid you lost me at peksi hole! What is that?

[kai]

Hello Harry,

Congrats, this is IMVHO a nice keris!

I will put this one down as bone.

It is regular bone (probably water buffalo) - the (not shown) base of the upper side shows the exposed porous inner side.

Whale bone tends to be more porous, polishing less smoothly, and less resistant to wear.

Stag tends to be more homogenous if selected and worked well.

The hilt is worn enough that it feels incredibly smooth. I am guessing it has some age. Do you think I would be way off to think it is early 20h?

Well polished bone can be very smooth to begin with; this is obviously well worn, too.

We don't know how long this keris has been out of regular use within the culture (and retired into a collection) which makes judging the age of any part based on wear unreliable. Given this disclaimer, I would not be surprised if this hilt were from the 19th century. First quarter of the 20th c. may be a good conservative estimate though.

Regards,
Kai