Keris Hilt Material

A. G. Maisey · 21st May 2008, 07:49 AM

Here are some close-ups of the hilts posted above.

I think you should be able to see the grain.

A. G. Maisey · 21st May 2008, 07:51 AM

This is walrus ivory.

A. G. Maisey · 21st May 2008, 07:53 AM

This is whales tooth.

asian-keris · 3rd June 2008, 05:02 PM

In mine opinion this is Hippopotamus Ivory recognizeble on the long nerve lines.

G.J.

Lew · 3rd June 2008, 07:16 PM

I vote hippo tusk ivory. I have a badek at home with the same material will see if I can take a good pic of it later this week. Look at the top left hand side the dagger I spoke of is there and you can make out the tell tale line in the hilt.

Lew

Newsteel · 4th June 2008, 02:23 AM

Alam Shah, your hilt is buffed mirror shine and looks almost like a glass

I think it is hippo tusk too.

BluErf · 4th June 2008, 04:36 PM

I've also been told to differentiate hippo ivory from elephant ivory by their heavier weight, non-criss crossed grains and the 'stitch-line' down the length of the ivory. However, I've not come across pictures from reputable books which show those exactly. I guess maybe I haven't looked hard enough.

But my question is - is the "stitch-line" unique to hippo ivory? I've seen quite a number of gigantic sized pekaka hilts (the jawa demam form from N. Malaysia; not the tajong, which shd NOT be called a pekaka at all.) and wondered if the hippo tusk could grow to such epic proportions (the length can be wider than my palm). Considering the wastage and the distance between the tanjak (the sharp 'nose'), the garuda mungkur (the spike rising from the back) and the buah pinang (the base of the hilt), it must have been a HUGE tusk to begin with. It has never ceased to amaze me...

On a side-topic, Lew's picture showing the various daggers has convinced me permanently that despite not specializing in collecting in any specific dagger types, he has impeccable tastes and eagle eyes to pick out the really good specimens...

Congratulations.

21st May 2008, 07:49 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Here are some close-ups of the hilts posted above. I think you should be able to see the grain. Attached Images

21st May 2008, 07:51 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	This is walrus ivory. Attached Images

21st May 2008, 07:53 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	This is whales tooth. Attached Images

3rd June 2008, 05:02 PM	#4
asian-keris Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 32	Hilt material In mine opinion this is Hippopotamus Ivory recognizeble on the long nerve lines. G.J.

3rd June 2008, 07:16 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I vote hippo tusk ivory. I have a badek at home with the same material will see if I can take a good pic of it later this week. Look at the top left hand side the dagger I spoke of is there and you can make out the tell tale line in the hilt. Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 3rd June 2008 at 07:35 PM.

4th June 2008, 02:23 AM	#6
Newsteel Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 132	Alam Shah, your hilt is buffed mirror shine and looks almost like a glass I think it is hippo tusk too.

4th June 2008, 04:36 PM	#7
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I've also been told to differentiate hippo ivory from elephant ivory by their heavier weight, non-criss crossed grains and the 'stitch-line' down the length of the ivory. However, I've not come across pictures from reputable books which show those exactly. I guess maybe I haven't looked hard enough. But my question is - is the "stitch-line" unique to hippo ivory? I've seen quite a number of gigantic sized pekaka hilts (the jawa demam form from N. Malaysia; not the tajong, which shd NOT be called a pekaka at all.) and wondered if the hippo tusk could grow to such epic proportions (the length can be wider than my palm). Considering the wastage and the distance between the tanjak (the sharp 'nose'), the garuda mungkur (the spike rising from the back) and the buah pinang (the base of the hilt), it must have been a HUGE tusk to begin with. It has never ceased to amaze me... On a side-topic, Lew's picture showing the various daggers has convinced me permanently that despite not specializing in collecting in any specific dagger types, he has impeccable tastes and eagle eyes to pick out the really good specimens... Congratulations.