Tridacna identification

jonng · 7th January 2008, 03:06 PM

Hi All,

Appreciate if anyone can give more info on how to identify a Tridacna hilt. I've posted some pics. Are the lines shown the growth lines? Any examples and close up pics of hilts made from the giant clam shell would be much appreciated.

B/rgds,
Jon

Alam Shah · 7th January 2008, 03:49 PM

Afaik, this is one.

Newsteel · 8th January 2008, 01:38 AM

That looks a kemoh (Tridacna) hilt for sure. The black scattered dots are actually mineral deposits. Taking the point that this is calcium and mineral from the sea bed would easily deposited in it, unlike bones or ivory there is less contact with other mineral source. Is that a Tajong hilt???

Marcokeris · 8th January 2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonng

Hi All,

Appreciate if anyone can give more info on how to identify a Tridacna hilt. I've posted some pics. Are the lines shown the growth lines? Any examples and close up pics of hilts made from the giant clam shell would be much appreciated.

B/rgds,
Jon

Hi Jon
another example

jonng · 8th January 2008, 02:39 PM

Thank you guys for your kind info and pic.
You're spot on Newsteel!

Newsteel · 9th January 2008, 10:27 AM

I was told that the black spots or lines that appear on the hilt is when it is obtained near the outer/crust of the shell. The deeper (inner) shell would have a cleaner white appearance.

Probably, the sample from Marcokeris is one obtained from the centre of the shell

jonng,
I could see the lotus petal carving on your hilt. I guess this could be a tajong.

jonng · 9th January 2008, 04:36 PM

Newsteel,
You are right. There are more black spots on one side ( probably the outer crust) than the other which has only a handful. I still think the lines are growth lines as they can be seen throughout the whole piece, now that I have cleaned off some of the dirt on the tajong hilt. It's a big piece so as much of the material as possible must have been utilized.
Thanks again for checking.

ganjawulung · 5th January 2009, 07:05 PM

Dear All,

Would you please inform me, is this the kind of "tridacna hilt"? How can you identify whether this is "tridacna" or not? What is the specialty of this kind of hilt? (Who wears this kind of hilt?) I found this hilt in Jakarta this Monday afternoon...

Thanks in advance...

GANJAWULUNG

7th January 2008, 03:06 PM	#1
jonng Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 41	Tridacna identification Hi All, Appreciate if anyone can give more info on how to identify a Tridacna hilt. I've posted some pics. Are the lines shown the growth lines? Any examples and close up pics of hilts made from the giant clam shell would be much appreciated. B/rgds, Jon Attached Images

5th January 2009, 07:05 PM	#8
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	TRIDACNA Keris Hilt? Dear All, Would you please inform me, is this the kind of "tridacna hilt"? How can you identify whether this is "tridacna" or not? What is the specialty of this kind of hilt? (Who wears this kind of hilt?) I found this hilt in Jakarta this Monday afternoon... Thanks in advance... GANJAWULUNG Attached Images

7th January 2008, 03:49 PM	#2
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Afaik, this is one.

8th January 2008, 01:38 AM	#3
Newsteel Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 132	That looks a kemoh (Tridacna) hilt for sure. The black scattered dots are actually mineral deposits. Taking the point that this is calcium and mineral from the sea bed would easily deposited in it, unlike bones or ivory there is less contact with other mineral source. Is that a Tajong hilt???

8th January 2008, 02:39 PM	#5
jonng Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 41	Thank you guys for your kind info and pic. You're spot on Newsteel!

9th January 2008, 10:27 AM	#6
Newsteel Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 132	I was told that the black spots or lines that appear on the hilt is when it is obtained near the outer/crust of the shell. The deeper (inner) shell would have a cleaner white appearance. Probably, the sample from Marcokeris is one obtained from the centre of the shell jonng, I could see the lotus petal carving on your hilt. I guess this could be a tajong.

9th January 2008, 04:36 PM	#7
jonng Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 41	Newsteel, You are right. There are more black spots on one side ( probably the outer crust) than the other which has only a handful. I still think the lines are growth lines as they can be seen throughout the whole piece, now that I have cleaned off some of the dirt on the tajong hilt. It's a big piece so as much of the material as possible must have been utilized. Thanks again for checking.