imitation ivory ?

[Green]

I have this keris hilt that I suspect is made from imitation ivory. At first look, it seems like ivory, when I scraped bits from the inside of the peksi hole, it smelt like ivory but the whole part and the carvings look too "perfect". There are no old cracks and the color is uniform. There are striations (schreger lines) but are these imitation ? how can we distinguish between the genuine schreger lines with the imitation ones?

Can anyone here confirm my suspicion that this hilt is made from imitation ivory or other wise?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

nik

[Jean]

Hello Green,
It is not possible to ascertain from these pics, but unless the Retzius lines disappear or fade by very fine superficial sanding or filing (around the pesi hole not to be visible), it seems to me that the piece is made from elephant ivory and is very finely carved. The perfect look may be only because the piece is recent. Other opinions are welcome. The black spots at regular intervals are strange (marks from a selut?).
Regards

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by Green

I have this keris hilt that I suspect is made from imitation ivory. At first look, it seems like ivory, when I scraped bits from the inside of the peksi hole, it smelt like ivory but the whole part and the carvings look too "perfect". There are no old cracks and the color is uniform. There are striations (schreger lines) but are these imitation ? how can we distinguish between the genuine schreger lines with the imitation ones?

Can anyone here confirm my suspicion that this hilt is made from imitation ivory or other wise?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

nik

Without prejudice, sometime judging something from photo and hand handling produces different opinions. I handled fake ivory before and the materials are produced from China with the person taught me how to see it.

So I tends to say it is fake after looking at the grain pattern but again, I might be incorrect.

[Anthony G.]

My good friend who is an art teacher and also a keris collector told me that you can only give it a hot needle test. If fake ivory then it will melt orelse real ivory, will burn.

[David]

Photos are tricky, but i don't know how someone can fake such convincing Schreger Lines. If my only way to judge this was from photos i would likely accept that this is real elephant ivory. Of course my opinion could change with the hilt in hand, so just package it up and send it my way Nik. LOL!
The "perfect" carving should not make you too suspicious. There are hand always have been many master carvers in Indonesia. I suspect this is a recent piece, in spite if the colour of the ivory, which was likely added after the carving to give this hilt an slight aged look. As a modern piece it was likely carved with modern tools, helping add to the "perfect" look of the carving.
I would say if this is yours you have added a nice piece to your collection, though i am personally strongly opposed to collecting new ivory.

[Green]

Jean;

I don't know what that black dots are... could well be markings from pendokok /selut as you suggested.

Anthony;

I did scrape from the inside of the hole and the powder smelt just like ivory. But did not try to burn it. The lines looked very much like the real thing if compared to the ones of imitation ivory that I saw on the internet but I am not sure as I have no experience in this .

David;

Like you I'm against the use of 'new' ivory. I hope this one is not that new (if it is real ivory).

[francantolin]

Hello,
sometimes a simple clue can help:
what about it's weight ?
Is it heavy-massive ??
Ivory is a massive matter ( old billiard ball were made of )

most of plastic-resin are really lighter...

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by Green

Jean;

I don't know what that black dots are... could well be markings from pendokok /selut as you suggested.

Anthony;

I did scrape from the inside of the hole and the powder smelt just like ivory. But did not try to burn it. The lines looked very much like the real thing if compared to the ones of imitation ivory that I saw on the internet but I am not sure as I have no experience in this .

David;

Like you I'm against the use of 'new' ivory. I hope this one is not that new (if it is real ivory).

Hi, my good pal who has much experience told me that yours seem to be a real stuff. Happy for you

[Will M]

Looks like a nice authentic ivory piece. Old ivory can appear new depending on how it was stored and protected, it's very stable for a natural object.

[Green]

Thank you all for comments and suggestions.

Based on the discussion above I'll treat this item as genuine ivory (for now).

[Jean]

One useful (but not full-proof) indicator is the price which you paid for this piece, after fierce bargaining of course.... (no figure given as forbidden by the law).

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Jean

One useful (but not full-proof) indicator is the price which you paid for this piece, after fierce bargaining of course.... (no figure given as forbidden by the law).

I beg to differ!

From my experience, price is the most misleading criteria possible.

On one hand the whole idea of selling fake ivory is to sell plastic at the price of ivory.

On the other hand I got so many genuine ivory objects (Japanese ivory inro and netsuke, ivory shibayama art, African ivory objects) literally dirt cheap.

[Jean]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

I beg to differ!


On the other hand I got so many genuine ivory objects (Japanese ivory inro and netsuke, ivory shibayama art, African ivory objects) literally dirt cheap.

This is true for most Asian and African ivory pieces because ivory trading is virtually banned in Europe, but not for kris hilts IMO and according to my recent experience at an international auction.

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Jean

One useful (but not full-proof) indicator is the price which you paid for this piece, after fierce bargaining of course.... (no figure given as forbidden by the law).

Pfew. I agree with Marius on this one.
How could the price be an indicator ?

Weirdest indicator ever for such an object.

[Rafngard]

In my own less than educated opinion, I'd also say this is legit ivory.

Also, another relevant imitation ivory is "French ivory." This is an early cellulose/plastic material that does have layers that kind of, but not really, resemble the Schreger lines you'd find on actual ivory.

I'm including two images from an old auction, and a link to my own small gunong with a French ivory hilt, previously discussed on the Ethnographic side of the fence.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24831

Have fun,
Leif