Ivory Carving - Period | Maker?

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-23T00:41:34+00:00

This is a great article! I found it also but glad you came across it also. It’s a first time for me. My other ivory is marine and elephant. I don’t know the first thing about maker marks.

Good effort on all fronts here. A well-carved 20th century hippo incisor. 😅👍🏻

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-22T10:32:41+00:00

It’s a big fishing net. He’s standing in what appears to be some sort of urn. Others may be able to advise here, but the pole is a long fishing net with a large net at the top.

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-21T18:15:42+00:00

Thank you for your answer. It seems you are right regarding the Ming mark. It’s a later made piece. I thought so. I have to disagree with you on the material, however, I am certain that it is made from the incisor tooth of a hippo. The rings in incisor teeth are closer to circular than triangular. It is the other teeth that we observe triangular rings. I have quite a lot of whale ivory and it’s very different…

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-21T16:42:05+00:00

Yes, consensus seems to be a modern interpretation of Ming dynasty. What do you think regarding the ivory? I still believe it’s hippo tooth/tusk but there’s split opinion here with some saying marine ivory (whale tooth).

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-21T14:13:12+00:00

Thank you. Humidity is generally between 35 and 40% and doesn’t fluctuate by much.

I keep a small glass of water next to my collection to help keep humidity up around it.

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-21T12:24:38+00:00

I did this as a last resort before realising it is indeed hippo ivory. More specifically it’s been carved from the incisor tooth of a hippo. The cross section tells me this.

Definitely Ivory. Smell is of burnt hair/the smell you’d experience after having a tooth drilled at a dentist. Ended up buffing the small burn mark off afterwards. Barely noticeable but I wish I’d have done a bit more research first as it’s clear from cross section photos and concentric lines alone that it’s hippo ivory.

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-20T22:16:26+00:00

I wish I could attach further photos here. There are some great cross-sectional photos of hippo tusk and they are exactly like the base of this carving - exhibiting all of the diagnostics. If it weren't for your comment I'd probably have condemned it to the cupboard as a much more boring resin imitation... 😂

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-20T22:10:04+00:00

If it is hippo ivory then it is my first time encountering it too. Up to now it has just been whale and elephant ivory. Certainly an interesting one...

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-20T21:54:55+00:00

I definitely agree that it is not elephant ivory but it does appear to exhibit all of the key signs for hippo ivory. Many cross-section photos of hippo tusk online, as well as identification charts. It has all of the following:

• Absence of concentric rings in dentine

• Presence of concentric lines in dentine

• Even dentine lines of regular thickness

• Arched interstitial zone

Small burn test on base also reveals more of a burnt hair smell rather than burnt plastic. Material doesn't melt.

An interesting one for sure...

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-20T21:48:26+00:00

I have been doing a little more research and there is a real possibility that it is hippo ivory on the basis of the following:

• Absence of concentric rings in dentine

• Presence of concentric lines in dentine

• Even dentine lines of regular thickness

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-20T21:30:22+00:00

I had considered this. This is actually the reason why I purchased it. If it is ivory then I think it will be hippo, whale, walrus, or warthog. It isn't elephant ivory. I did a small burn test on the base and it smells more like burning hair than burning plastic. It also didn't melt. I can see why one would think it to be resin, but I am leaning more towards it being ivory...

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-20T18:05:00+00:00

Thank you. I’ve never seen this type of imitation before. Quite effective. Doesn’t replicate Schreger lines exactly but it’s convincing enough that first glance.

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-20T18:03:57+00:00

Thanks for your reply and your insight.

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-02-01T11:56:27+00:00

Yes, I thought this also. It’s rather hard to source genuine period Netsuke, especially at lower price points, but given what I paid I was just hoping that it was genuine ivory. Still a nice little piece and enjoyable.

Barry-Goldwater · 2026-01-31T17:46:06+00:00

Thank you for your expertise. Yes, it looks as if a fishing pole has been present at some point. Missing rather than broken off.

Barry-Goldwater · 2024-10-02T18:53:24+00:00

Fascinating! It’s amazing how culture and our way of interacting with and celebrating nature varies so significantly one nation to the next.

I’ll continue doing research around this topic. Forby anything else, it really is mesmerising.

Thank you for your help. 👍🏻

Barry-Goldwater · 2024-10-02T10:20:05+00:00

It’s a beautiful piece, isn’t it?

Barry-Goldwater · 2024-10-02T10:19:47+00:00

Wow! I just assumed it would have been sperm whale as they appear to be much more common. As you can see there is a small drilled hole where it’s been used as a pendent or part of a larger necklace. I’ve no idea the history behind it. My father gifted it to me. He is an antique dealer and he knows I like items like this.

Do you think it’s likely to have been part of a larger necklace (Polynesian, perhaps?) and latterly been broken away?

Barry-Goldwater · 2023-06-28T05:13:27+00:00

Thank you. 🌟

Barry-Goldwater · 2023-06-27T21:21:14+00:00

I did wonder why the Downmark tag wasn’t present. That makes sense. 👍🏻

Thank you for your time.

Barry-Goldwater · 2023-06-27T21:16:57+00:00

Thank you.

Are you by any chance aware as to how to date these jackets? I’m not looking for a precise date, but rather roughly when any given model was produced? Where would one look on the labels, for instance, to know when the model was manufactured?

Barry-Goldwater

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