I wish I was able to be more specific about the place of origin and the age, but this switch has been difficult to research. Fly switches like this on the internet are often ivory and had belonged to esteemed members of the tribe / group. Frankly, I think the handle here is bone, given the clear indications of a blood system. The whish appears to hair but again I remain unsure if it is horse or from the tail of another equine type animal. The handle has the unusual head carving at the terminal and the shaft has three equidistant rows with a saw tooth effect. The bone component finishes above the start of the hair, which has been bundled into small groups by repeated knotting then capped with a (?) Bakelite cover. The handle has a total length of 189mm and the hair whisk is 300mm at its longest. I have tried to use the photographs to show the age-related deterioration, damage and previous repair toward the hair end of the handle and the natural curve of the hair elements. As photographs form an important part of the description, happy to provide additional images if requested. Please also take the time to check out our eclectic range of items being auctioned.
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