Posted by Trevor Vale on July 08, 1998 at 21:02:38:
In Reply to: Indonesian Art Reproductions posted by Mark A. Johnson on June 08, 1998 at 10:13:58:
The majority of artefacts from Indonesia are indeed reproductions. However, if one is really worried about the authenticity of a particular wooden piece it could be of help to consult a microbiologist. There is a marked difference between an authentic old piece - such as a hampatong - and an artificially aged one. The old artefact, being out in the field for a long period of time, will develop a typical microscopic picture consisting of minute insects, their casts and eggs, pollens, fungal colonies, fungal hyphae etc. A piece that has been artificially aged using acids, bleaching agents or - a recent trend - sand blasting will at best only have a few areas of fungal colonisation.