Carved “knife”

Apologies if I’ve posted this before. I don’t think I have. I’ve always wondered the origin. I guess it’s effectively just a letter opener or page turner. African? I think the auction I bought it from called it NA. I’d doubt it is. I assume it’s from a creature with a long grey trunk that famously enjoys peanuts but not mice. Shame they had to suffer for its creation but I’m still curious.

 

The dude looks like he's from a Muslim country, from the hat. The white carved material does indeed look like white carved material.

 

Elephino

The auction house was possibly right calling it NA....if it is North African

 

The marks on the back are interesting....a discoloration alone or a feature....?

 

I'm not seeing ivory..

 

To me it looks like a woman with long hair down the back. Which rules out sub-Sahara Africa, but I can't see this being North African either.

Ditto.

 

Hmm. So totally a mystery still?

If not Ivree, just bone? I believe the spots on back are just a natural feature of the material.

 

It is difficult to be sure about the material with the rough carving and lack of polish. But this bit looks like it might be ivory -


My guess would be from somewhere in southern Asia , anywhere from India to Indonesia.

 

If like to see closeups of the crossing lines (to see if in material or surface texture) and also those dark spots. I haven't seen everything, but I haven't seen those in ivo before and I'm curious.