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Old Ivory, (16) spheres, African

By Todd99, 12 September, 2012
Description

I aquired 16 solid ivory balls, 15oz in weight, each. These are very old. I bought them from a Purdue Professor, retired, in his 90's, who purchased them from another Purdue Professor, when he first started at Purdue. The Original owner, a professor of Archeology, obtained them, when he spent time in Africa, poss. northern half, before he joined Purdue, as a young man. I know the ivory has been in posession of either man for a total of 116+ years.

I am having diffuculty uploading the photo, to share. A few of the balls (3) have lines on the surface, but most are smooth. Several are a light cream color, the rest are lighter shades to almost white.

I am looking to identify what they were used for, a game, to crush grain, or ? and I would like to have a value appox. placed on them as individual items, or appraisal of a single ball. The circumfrance is measured at 7 inches.

Category
Other
Medium
Ivory
Distinguishing marks
Balls, solid, 7 inches circumfrance, several w/age lines, and of the (16) they range in color from a light cream, to just off white.
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
The individual ball is 7 inches in circumfrence, and weigh 15-16 ounces, 2 1/4 inches tall.
Date Period
Not sure of age. Comes from Africa, 116 years ago to US. Items were old, and discovered several years before they came in to the possession of the first professor.
Weight
15-16 ounces, on crude scales
History
Young professor came into posession of these ivory spheres, in Africa, as an archeologist in early 20's. He brought them to the US in 1891, The 2nd owner, who is a retired professor, 91 yrs. of age, obtained them from the 1st professor, 1927. I obtained them from him in 2011.
eBay Auction Link
Price Paid (If known)
Unkn
For Sale?
No
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