Featured Asian style Tiger cane topper? Bone? Ivory?

Hello helpful friends:
I’ve been holding onto the (what I think is a) cane topper carved into a tiger. It’s old, I can’t say how old, I only know where it’s been for the past 100 years or so. I’ve tried to include the detailed degree lines that may or may not prove ivory or scrimshaw- I have no idea.

I broke my foot and am in a bad way with the pandemic. Time to consider selling some of my favorites. Most

TigerProfile by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM

TigerTop by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM

Tiger other profile by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM

haven’t been sold off because I haven’t had time to research the value of them.

I think this piece is really beautiful and I hope you do too! The whole thing is 4” long, the head is 1” long x 1” wide.

Grateful for all the shared knowledge!!

Tiger neck chin by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM

Tiger pattern by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM

Tiger best pattern by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM

Tigers top by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:23 PM

Tigers chin by AntiqueAnimals posted Sep 9, 2020 at 3:23 PM

 

It looks like ivory to me - the most diagnostic surface will be the cross section at the base. The style looks Indian (India).

https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/auc...au=8781&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=1&pp=24&pn=16&g=1


https://www.mayfairgallery.com/antique-indian-silver-bench-with-tiger-form-armrests

 

I concur about ivory.

 

looks ivory from here , too.
a tough sell depending on location....

Heel, better soon !!!

 

I agree, it looks old, Indian, and ivory, Mysore? late 18th c? I'd do some research before selling.

 

Yours isn't this but http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/arts-of-the-islamic-world/lot.572.html

 

no, no it is not that..............by any stretch of the ........

 

I agree with Indian, ivory and possible 18th century.

 

My heart stopped when I clicked on that Sotheby’s link! I gots a little hot !

you guys are amazing, all these links were so very helpful!!

 

just the curiosity what makes you guys think this is a real ivor and possible from 18th century?

 

stylistically the tiger is in the form of tipu's tiger, there are a number of other 18th c tigers formed in Mysore in the same way. When I posed the Sotheby's link I did say "Yours isn't this" but it still maybe worth finding out exactly what age it is and what it's worth maybe.

 

Your right, it's almost impossible to tell the age or even if it's ivory from photos but stylistically it is of that period and the shade of ivory yellows with time. If you get a red hot pin and push it in it shouldn't go in at all. If that happens then you are dealing with bone or ivory, if there are no black flecks then it's ivory, the yellowing and splitting is impossible to fake, only time will produce these features.

 

Can you take a photo of the black object the head is stuck on? or isn't it a part of it?

 

Whoa, Hot Pin Test......have we not railed against doing that here on numerous occasions.......so numerous I've lost count ??

 

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

To identify ivory, look for a subtle pattern of cross hatching, known as "schreger lines" (after the fellow who first described them in the scientific literature). These are created by spiraling tubules that feed the ivory as it grows, and are unique to elephant ivory. They will be most visible on a cross section of the tusk, which in this case would be on the bottom edge of the tiger's head. On a tangential surface (parallel to the outer surface of the original tusk) they show more like wood grain.

If you do a search for previous threads on ivory you will find several examples of ivory that illustrate the schreger lines.

 

I'm not sure about that. there is synthetic and other replica material which looks genuine ivory. even with the yellowing or splitting w

can you post at least a 10X magnified picture? 1 focused on the splitting 1 focused on a smoot area and 1 bottom of the figurine


im trying to understand who real ivory looks like

 

The lovely @AntiqueAnimals has provided exellent photos so that those of us who KNOW ivory, and handled ivory, can make a determination on what we see.

For me, the schreger lines are there, and the knife cuts are there and the cracking from age and use as a cane topper are consistent with what I know to be an ivory handle.
For others, the carved design leads them towards a style of carving that image, which may point towards a dating and origin.

 

click on this ............!!!!!!!

 

click on the above.......

 

looks like an iron rod, to secure it into the cane......or ...just 4 display??