attach bone plates

To be honest, this does not look like an original untouched quiver. There are clear indications of the bone plates having broken recently. The workmanship is good and it is roughly like a Qing Dynasty quiver of a type used in the Mongol banners of the Qing army. The frame is the correct design. However, the bone work I have seen was usually decorated on the surface. Even things like knife scabbards with bone inlay usually had fine engraving filled with black ink to make the patterns stand out.

The surviving bone pieces from the Mongol imperial period look like they were laced to the quiver bodies through round holes drilled in the bone. Metal fittings on Qing quivers usually had metal pegs cast on their inner sides. These fitted through holes in the leather and were peaned over small washers. Other fittings had small holes with rivets driven through them and either through the leather or through the leather and wooden frame. I have a bow case that was made in this fashion. Sometimes delicate fittings were sewn onto the backing.

Thank you Bede. This is very informative.

Sir, this is a fascinating quiver. I have been interested myself in producing a copy of it but only had a small, poor quality image of it. Can you tell me anything more about it, such as where it was made, where it is or if other images of it exist?

I have done several bone and antler work projects, namely related to European Renaissance firearms and equipment, so this quiver really caught my eye. I agree with Bede's observations. Most bone and antler work that I have seen, is decorated with what we locally call 'scrimshaw', engraving and inking to create details, patterns, and in many cases entire scenes on small surfaces. Bone is hard, polishes up to a nice shine, but is softer than brass, and has a distinct grain (like wood). As a result, it is usually 'inlayed' into wood or another protective surface, which also serves to highlight its bright whiteness. The bone or antler used on this quiver, appears to have been attached with brass pins, almost as if 'riveted'.

Using tiny brass rivets, bone (or antler) pieces could be attached to the background fur covered leather, if small backing 'washers' were used, and a great deal of care is taken. the small round circles that line the top wouldn't be that hard; but the larger pieces look extremely fragile and prone to breakage just in the riveting process. Looking at the bottom of the face, I can see where fragile pieces (carved swirls) appear to have broken off. This does not seem surprising considering the flexing the furred leather must undergo as arrows are inserted and taken out of the quiver. It really makes me wonder, why was bone used? I would really like to know where this quiver came from and why a traditional Chinese style quiver is so faithfully rendered in an almost 'Siberian folk art', fur and bone fashion. The faded 'shadow' of the broken off lower swirls indicate this must be quite old. All in all, very interesting.

What ever the reason or history, I really want to try my hand at making a copy of it. I can hear myself cussing and swearing already.

Ricksbow -- I hope Bede or Dshonan see your reply here. Realize that this conversation is a couple years old. The website has just been re-vitalized so hopefully we'll be getting some more action here rather than on the Farcebook page.

You're right that the quiver poses some questions -- why bone decorations on that sort of base? Bone, OK, but sewn, not riveted since it's that thin and delicate.

It's as if someone tried to take artifacts of two widely separated cultures and crammed them together...