Molar hilt, sumatran keris for comments

lemmythesmith · 3rd August 2009, 10:30 PM

Hi all, that's a nice keris Gustav, I really like it. Does anyone know if these hilts were ever made of mammoth molar or are they of elephant molar only?

A. G. Maisey · 3rd August 2009, 11:01 PM

Yes, I've seen and been offered both hilts and scabbards made of fossilised material.But it is not a good choice. The material itself is not stable and over time tends to crack and crumble.

In Central Jawa the fossil material on the market comes from the fossil beds at Sangiran. In Bali the fossil ivory and geraham is imported from Alaska.

Gustav · 3rd August 2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemmythesmith

Hi all, that's a nice keris Gustav, I really like it. Does anyone know if these hilts were ever made of mammoth molar or are they of elephant molar only?

Thank you very much, Lemmythesmith.

Another question: knows anybody, which is the origin of the different colours of kinds of molar (sometimes red, yellow, orange)? Can it be the age? Is there a knowledge, from where the certain molar with some concrete colour comes?

(Oh, I see Alan has give an answer for a part of my question...)

Rick · 3rd August 2009, 11:14 PM

This is a petrified material; is it not ?

edit
*Sorry, I missed Alan's post on this .

Wouldn't the color be determined by the mineral content of the strata it was buried in ?

Sajen · 6th August 2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

This is a petrified material; is it not ?

edit
*Sorry, I missed Alan's post on this .

Wouldn't the color be determined by the mineral content of the strata it was buried in ?

Yes Rick,

it's like you write, the minerals in the ground give the different colours.

Here again my molar hilt.

Regards,

sajen

Rick · 6th August 2009, 07:24 PM

A fine example of the carver's art, Sajen .
Thanks for sharing .

Gustav · 6th August 2009, 09:10 PM

Yes, it is beautiful, Sajen

I regarded that thread many, many times.

Sajen · 6th August 2009, 11:09 PM

Thank you Rick and Gustav. What catch my eyes: all three hilts here shown in this thread have a similar colour, while many warangkas and hilts offered in e-bay more blond. They worked maybe from the molar Mr. Maisey told.

Regards,

Detlef

3rd August 2009, 11:14 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	This is a petrified material; is it not ? edit Sorry, I missed Alan's post on this . Wouldn't the color be determined by the mineral content of the strata it was buried in ? Last edited by Rick; 4th August 2009 at 12:13 AM. Reason: Addendum*

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3rd August 2009, 10:30 PM	#1
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi all, that's a nice keris Gustav, I really like it. Does anyone know if these hilts were ever made of mammoth molar or are they of elephant molar only?

3rd August 2009, 11:01 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Yes, I've seen and been offered both hilts and scabbards made of fossilised material.But it is not a good choice. The material itself is not stable and over time tends to crack and crumble. In Central Jawa the fossil material on the market comes from the fossil beds at Sangiran. In Bali the fossil ivory and geraham is imported from Alaska.

6th August 2009, 07:24 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	A fine example of the carver's art, Sajen . Thanks for sharing .

6th August 2009, 09:10 PM	#7
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,280	Yes, it is beautiful, Sajen I regarded that thread many, many times.

6th August 2009, 11:09 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Thank you Rick and Gustav. What catch my eyes: all three hilts here shown in this thread have a similar colour, while many warangkas and hilts offered in e-bay more blond. They worked maybe from the molar Mr. Maisey told. Regards, Detlef