Small ivory hilted gunong restore project

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Robert

One question, is the braided band made from gold wire as it appears to be in the photos?

Hello Robert,

just noticed your question. I think it is silver but not sure.

Regards,
Detlef

[Battara]

The braided band does look silver to me.......

[Robert]

I was just wondering, in photos above (the second one in particular) to me the band has a gold/swasa look to it. Either way gold or silver it is nice that it is still with the gunong and was not lost like the guard and ferrule were.

Best,
Robert

[Battara]

Very true Robert. I am surprised it stayed with the piece.

[Sajen]

I have just received some pictures from Jose, he has finished the work on this gunong. I am pleased with his work!

[Ian]

What a sweet little gunong Detlef. Jose does lovely work.

I think the valuable metal may have been stripped from this knife originally because of its value. Recently, I have been in touch with an old friend, a long time antique store owner in Manila, who says that he has seen many such pieces stripped of their precious metals so that the silver/gold can be sold. He laments this desecration of old artifacts because he believes he could sell the intact piece for much more than the value of the metal taken off them. He has even offered more than the metal is worth to buy the intact items, but the owners have more faith in selling the silver/gold for cash in their own areas than relying on a middle man in Manila who shops these items to antique dealers like my friend.

Ian.

[Battara]

Ian, Cato said that same exact thing, sadly.

Anyway, the guard I made is silver and the red bands are rose gold (closed thing to swassa) over brass. On the rose gold bands are sections of silver.

Thank you folks. Happy to bring this back to life!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

What a sweet little gunong Detlef. Jose does lovely work.

I think the valuable metal may have been stripped from this knife originally because of its value.

Thank you Ian. Agree about the work Jose has done. Interestingly thought why it come like this, still a mystery why the braided silver band was still with it.

Regards,
Detlef