Vintage Ivory & Woven Something Riding Whip Crop. Woven what, reed? Age?

I bought this antique vintage whip that is woven from tiny something and ivory decor and was wanting info about it. Like what could the woven part be made of, reed? And is it a crop or whip? Look Middle Eastern? Age? It is a 27 inches long.

 

Camel whip?

 

That sounds like the area I totally guessed it might be from but then thought they had a lot of leather, so, that part puzzled me. Maybe a poor camel rider's whip, although a lot of work.

 

WOW has that got a LOT of woven work in it....looks also either waxed or lacquered, with that sheen.....BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

 

Perhaps sinew.

If you can sacrifice a small bit from the loose ends, you might try a simple burn test to see what it smells like - animal or vegetable.

 

Thank you for the suggestion. I just did and I determined I do not know what either smells like when dried up and old. It doesn't smell pleasant, harsh but not rank. I would think anything animal would be rankish or gaggish order, but I do not know.

 

Except for the unraveled end, it is quite lovely.

 

I doubt anyone poor owned that.....
it has the look of gut......from here

 

Hmmm. Will have to research that as well.

 

Ok, maybe it is animal. I just saw this item at the British Museumhttps://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_As1883-0132-10
and it said that whip was also made of skin (maral), this was in addition to leather. These tiny thin strips on the ends of mine are almost translucent, so maybe... Yuck, though. I've written and asked them what animal skin. You may be on to something when you asked about animal.

 

Plant-based materials will smell like burning paper. Burning sinew or gut (intestine) would smell more like, well, meat.

 

I burnt it again and it doesn't smell animal. It is just a strong harsh smell, if I had to guess maybe more like an oil product. Very lame answer but I can't place it as am not around burning things.

 

The oil product smell might be from what it is treat with.

 

I bet you are right because it has been finished with something to make it shiny and maybe for color. I think this is a good as I am going to get. If I hear from the British Museum as to the skin, I will update