Figural !

[Jean]

Originally Posted by David

Thanks Jean, though i'm pretty sure that's bone, probably from the latter side of the 20th Century. I found another quite similar one on the net that claimed itself as 1950s Madura, but who knows. Never quite been sure exactly where this one hails from, though it came on an old Jawa blade.

David, I don't think that they are made from buffalo or whale bone or even antler although one was repaired at the peksi hole, but rather from dugong tusk? There is no cap on the top, no porous surface or pits inside or outside, and no sign of discolouring with time. I agree that they are probably about 20-30 years old only, and the piece depicting a priest was dyed. I rather doubt about the Madurese origin or they would be more common in Java; these pieces were purchased in Lombok (not by myself) from a reputed dealer.
Regards

[David]

Originally Posted by Jean

David, I don't think that they are made from buffalo or whale bone or even antler although one was repaired at the peksi hole, but rather from dugong tusk? There is no cap on the top, no porous surface or pits inside or outside, and no sign of discolouring with time. I agree that they are probably about 20-30 years old only, and the piece depicting a priest was dyed. I rather doubt about the Madurese origin or they would be more common in Java; these pieces were purchased in Lombok (not by myself) from a reputed dealer.
Regards

Jean, i was not referring to your hilts at all, but to the comment you made about my "ivory bird head" piece. This one does have a top cap and is probably bone.

[Battara]

Ok here is my one and only ivory and gold Balinese hilt of Ravana.........

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

Ok here is my one and only ivory and gold Balinese hilt of Ravana.........

Beautiful hilt!

[Sajen]

Here a small Bali hilt from areng wood showing Membrayut.

[Sajen]

And here a old Bali hilt from Brass set with stones.

Someone know who it is?

[asomotif]

.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Battara

Ok here is my one and only ivory and gold Balinese hilt of Ravana.........

Sorry for not responding - thank you.

Also I did the gold mounts myself (hope they are not too aweful.... )

[Battara]

Did not realize there was such a variation of hilts......

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

Sorry for not responding - thank you.

Also I did the gold mounts myself (hope they are not too aweful.... )

Haven't realised that it isn't original!

[Jean]

Three peculiar Javanese hilts in figural style.
Regards

[Battara]

That last one - is that ivory and wood?

[asian-keris]

Like

[Marcokeris]

I like too

[Rick]

Me 3.

[ganjawulung]

Some cirebonese hilts with 'buta bajang' motives and also 'pulungan'...

Ganjawulung Collection

[ganjawulung]

Some cirebonese 'buta bajang' hilt and Rajamala of Tegal, Central Java....

Ganjawulung Collection

[A. G. Maisey]

Ex Puri Badung

[Jean]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Some cirebonese hilts with 'buta bajang' motives and also 'pulungan'...

Ganjawulung Collection

Dear Ganja,
What is the difference betwen the 2 types, I observe that some specimens wear a sort of crown and Garuda mungkur in the back, is it what makes the difference?
Regards

[HughChen]

hilt

[milandro]

Originally Posted by HughChen

hilt

Are you sure this is a Kris hilt?

I think that this may be a the hilt ( or rather the handle) of a Betelnut chisel or cutter

they are generally more ornate and have often this truncated cone shape

these were sold (terminated auction, therefore allowed) and in my view are similar

[David]

I am in agreement with Milandro. More likely a Betel Nut tool.

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by milandro

Are you sure this is a Kris hilt?

I think that this may be a the hilt ( or rather the handle) of a Betelnut chisel or cutter

they are generally more ornate and have often this truncated cone shape

these were sold (terminated auction, therefore allowed) and in my view are similar

Originally Posted by David

I am in agreement with Milandro. More likely a Betel Nut tool.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Yes, pelecok.

I'm not sure. We thought it was a hilt. Maybe the Betelnut chisel and Keris sometimes share a handle by native users.

[HughChen]

items of a finished auction. Very high quality.

[David]

Originally Posted by HughChen

items of a finished auction. Very high quality.

These are nice carvings Hugh, but honestly i would hesitate to label them as VERY high quality. First of all, usually the highest quality would be reserved for ivory, not only a more valuable material, but one that lends itself to a more detailed level of carving than bone. But even bone can be carved to a higher level of carving than the examples you show. Please understand i am not saying those examples are undesirable. As i stated, they are really nice hilts that i would surely welcome into my collection. But i just wanted you to be aware that they are not the highest level of Balinese carving skill.

[David]

Here are a couple of rather nice Bali hilts carved in bone. These two are contemporary carving which i believe are done with moose bone, which has become a popular medium for contemporary Balinese carvers. I believe the detail on these later carvings is fairly high quality.

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by David

Here are a couple of rather nice Bali hilts carved in bone. These two are contemporary carving which i believe are done with moose bone, which has become a popular medium for contemporary Balinese carvers. I believe the detail on these later carvings is fairly high quality.

Yes David, I agree they are of high quality. But it's much easier to do high quality with electronic tools contemporarily.And New ones are open to sale in scale, whereas old good ones are difficult to find. Because of that, I think old carved hilts are still much more attractive to me.

Originally Posted by David

These are nice carvings Hugh, but honestly i would hesitate to label them as VERY high quality. First of all, usually the highest quality would be reserved for ivory, not only a more valuable material, but one that lends itself to a more detailed level of carving than bone. But even bone can be carved to a higher level of carving than the examples you show. Please understand i am not saying those examples are undesirable. As i stated, they are really nice hilts that i would surely welcome into my collection. But i just wanted you to be aware that they are not the highest level of Balinese carving skill.

I agree that ivory is always better, but ivory can cause some legal confusion so I'm afraid to be so into it that I cannot control myself to try to get one at legal risk.

It's a pleasure for me to see these high-quality carvings you've provided. Are these made of bone or ivory? It's beyond my ability to tell which are better, or to Rank them in terms of quality. If someone can do it to help me understand better, it will be much appreciated. In my naive eyes, I think they are as good as the pair I represent which was sold in a French aucion. I found them sold in very high price. I apologize for my lack of artistic sensitivity. Due to my sluggish appreciation ability, I have to rely on your expert view as an indicator to understand the quality of something. I myself can only tell which is good and which is not good, still lacking the ability to tell how good and which one is better .

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by David

These are nice carvings Hugh, but honestly i would hesitate to label them as VERY high quality. First of all, usually the highest quality would be reserved for ivory, not only a more valuable material, but one that lends itself to a more detailed level of carving than bone. But even bone can be carved to a higher level of carving than the examples you show. Please understand i am not saying those examples are undesirable. As i stated, they are really nice hilts that i would surely welcome into my collection. But i just wanted you to be aware that they are not the highest level of Balinese carving skill.

There are very very beautiful. Thank you for letting us see them!

[Jean]

Originally Posted by David

Jean, i was not referring to your hilts at all, but to the comment you made about my "ivory bird head" piece. This one does have a top cap and is probably bone.

David, sorry for the confusion!
And I finally show you a peculiar ivory hilt deemed to originate from South Sumatra.
Regards