Jungayyan Ivory Sulu Twistcore kris with gold and silver wire inlay

[Battara]

Originally Posted by DaveS

I've been told that color is just due to normal ageing of the ivory, but we have many old ones that are basically white with just a little bit of color. So who knows. Maybe someone on the forum knows the reason why some hilts turn this color and why some don't

Well actually I understand that it depends upon the amount of sulfur present in the environment. The more sulfur is present and the warmer it is, the more it will react with the ivory and turn it darker and more orange. In silver it will turn it dark.

Hope this helps.

[VANDOO]

VERY INTERESTING CLOSE UPS OF THE INLAY TECKNIQUE IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF THE TWISTED WIRE INLAY ON THE MOROCCAN WEDDING NIMCHA BLADES. I HAD NOT SEEN THAT TECKNIQUE USED ON MORO WEAPONS BEFORE

ANOTHER FACTOR CAUSING IVORY TO TURN COLORS IS CONTACT WITH HUMAN SKIN, THE OILS. ACIDS AND WHATEVER ELSE FOUND IN THE ENVIRONMENT CAN OVER TIME CAUSE A VERY ORANGE COLOR. AFRICAN IVORY BRACELETS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE ,SOME MORO WEAPONS WITH A MORE SIMPLE IVORY HANDLE ALSO HAVE A GOOD RICH PATINA. I SUSPECT THE REASON FOR LESS PATINA ON THE VERY FANCY DELICATE IVORY POMMELS IS THAT THEY WERE NOT WORN EVERYDAY AND WERE HANDLED VERY CAREFULLY BY THE GRIPS ONLY TO HAVE SURVIVED INTACT ALL THESE YEARS. VERY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES ALL , TIME TO MOP THE DROOL OF MY KEYBOARD

[Bill M]

Thanks for the compliments, all. Especially DaveS, who has one of the finest collections I have ever seen, including some really awesome jungayyan kris!

I hunted a long time to find a good ivory jungayyan kris. Finally I have all three; kris, barong and kampilan with ivory.

I am a happy camper!