An antique Thai enep

kai · 22nd January 2017, 06:24 PM

Hello Detlef,

You're pointing to the fibrous texture of the horn. However, this is not diagnostic and also seen with many (especially aging) water buffalo horn carvings. The same goes for translucency which is also often quoted to "indicate" rhino but is definitely not: Many rhino pieces are opaque and lots of non-rhino horn (especially from albinotic individuals) can be beautifully translucent...

The only diagnostic criterion (apart from DNA sampling which is also tough for horn) is the dot motif found with rhino horn since it is basically build from "glued" hair rather than being grown in layers of keratin.

I can't prove it from the additional pics but I'm fairly confident that this is not rhino and most likely water buffalo (some layers seem to be present); one of those pieces that need to be personally examined with good magnification though.

Regards,
Kai

CharlesS · 23rd January 2017, 02:28 PM

I tend to agree. Looks like Asian water buffalo horn to me. Beautiful, regardless!

Sajen · 23rd January 2017, 07:37 PM

Hello Kai and Chrarles,

thank you both for your appraisal. At last it's not very important for me from which material the handle is worked, it's a very nice and old enep and I like it for its own.

Regards,
Detlef

22nd January 2017, 06:24 PM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Detlef, You're pointing to the fibrous texture of the horn. However, this is not diagnostic and also seen with many (especially aging) water buffalo horn carvings. The same goes for translucency which is also often quoted to "indicate" rhino but is definitely not: Many rhino pieces are opaque and lots of non-rhino horn (especially from albinotic individuals) can be beautifully translucent... The only diagnostic criterion (apart from DNA sampling which is also tough for horn) is the dot motif found with rhino horn since it is basically build from "glued" hair rather than being grown in layers of keratin. I can't prove it from the additional pics but I'm fairly confident that this is not rhino and most likely water buffalo (some layers seem to be present); one of those pieces that need to be personally examined with good magnification though. Regards, Kai

23rd January 2017, 02:28 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	I tend to agree. Looks like Asian water buffalo horn to me. Beautiful, regardless!

23rd January 2017, 07:37 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,164	Hello Kai and Chrarles, thank you both for your appraisal. At last it's not very important for me from which material the handle is worked, it's a very nice and old enep and I like it for its own. Regards, Detlef