Friends, the way I am reading this is that Kai is in general agreement with Detlef. We have this mutual feeling, that we are morally obliged to preserve what is antique and irreplaceable. That's because we view ourselves as not owners but custodians of objects that should be passed on for the benefit of generations to follow.
Which leads me to decide to err on the side of caution and I will therefor not try to obliterate the foreign-looking leafy scrollwork on the hulu. In any case, I don't think I COULD erase it without compromising in some way the existing patina on the horn.
Of course, the notion I have of home-crafting the missing scabbard is still on the cards. No harm can come of that. No matter that experts might frown on my handiwork, although, when a few years ago I finally completed a scabbard for my Bugis keris of Riau, it did not attract any negative comments!
My thanks to you all for the help you have given in this thread!
Regards
Johan
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