Hornbill ivory

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ivory horns (also called "gold jade") are valuable ornamental materials derived from helmet hornbills (Buceros vigil ), large birds in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Many hornbill species have "casques", decorative growth on the maxilla of the bill. In most, the casque has a sponge structure, but on the helmet horn it is dense keratin. This material, hornbill horn, has a texture that shows ivory but is softer. When it grows it's golden yellow, but the bird rubs its casing on its preen gland, whose oily secretions color the bright red surface of the kasing.

Indigenous people in the helmet chain, such as the Kenyah and Kelabit, have long carved the casque. In Malaysia, the ivory ring is said to be discolored when it comes to toxic food. The Chinese discovered material in the 14th century and soon became important merchandise in Brunei. According to Tom Harrisson, writing in the first edition (1960) about The Birds of Borneo :

It is likely that casque is primarily exported raw, and works with heat treatment and pressing - that there is no detailed description of survival - in China, to preserve and improve the golden red patina and the beautiful surface of fresh ivory. The Chinese might get the idea of ​​using the Dayak ho-ting , then refine the technique at the end. The use of casbac hornbills in Borneo is diverse and often effective; we will discuss it now. While the use of Borneo survives to this day, all traces of Chinese sculptor's art seem to have vanished. Very few survivors of this magnificent craft will undoubtedly pay for many old jars, plates, and beads that still adorn the longhouse or the wife of the more benevolent of Borneo infidels from many generations later.

During the Ming dynasty, the Chinese appreciated the elephant ivory on ivory or true jade. They carve a casque, or make it into a bedspread, color it with preen gland secretions, and make them into belt buckles for high officials. They call it a hornbill hockey hÃÆ'¨d? Ng (Wade-Giles ), which is said to be their approach on behalf of the natives (but means "head of the crane"), and therefore many Chinese think that the substance is derived from a crane and not a hornbill). The Japanese also carve a rattan hoe that is imported into objects such as netsuke .

At the beginning of the 20th century, hornbill helmets became scarce because slaughtered because kasingnya. Now legal trades in hornbills are limited to certified antiques, and hornbills carving is more valuable than true ivory.

Video Hornbill ivory

References

• Harrisson, Tom (1999). "Birds and Humans in Borneo", Chapter 4 of "Borneo Birds" (Smythies and Davison, 4th ed.). Publication of Natural History (Borneo). pp.Ã, 45-74. ISBN: 983-812-028-6.
• Perrins, Christopher (ed.) (2003). Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds . Firefly Book. ISBN: 1-55297-777-3. CS1 maint: Additional text: author list (link)

Maps Hornbill ivory

External links

• Page from Ivoryhound
• Page from Gem of the Month
• Photos and descriptions of Bornau's engraving from ArtAreas showing red rim colored by current gland secretions

Source of the article : Wikipedia