EXAMINING THE AUTHENCITY OF POWDER BASED AMULETS / NUR PHONG
Nur Phong/powder based amulets are moulded out of mixture of holy substances, powder and binding/hardening agent. They can be hand-moulded or machine-moulded. They are moulded when the mixture is wet, and left to dry and harden after being moulded into shape.
Powder based amulets are hardest to produce high quality imitations, hardest to identify authencity too. Hardest to produce high quality imitations because of wide scope of factors influencing the appearance and aging of different pieces, hardest to identify authencity because of the same reasons. Nevertheless, imitation pieces are many and be cautious when buying pieces with high chances of being imitated.
You need a 10X magnifying glass to examine amulets. Examine the difference between pieces in regards to the following (not all are applicable):
The finesse/coarseness of the powder and substance, or a mixture of fine and coarse powder, how evenly mixed is the mixture and the smoothness/roughness of the surface in general view and in detail.
The volume of the amulet, tightly or loosely packed powder, machine-moulded amulets are usually more tightly packed, there are less air pockets within the amulet, hand-moulded amulets can also be tightly packed, depending upon the pressure applied during the moulding process.
The color and tone of the powder and substances, the different colors evident when examined in detailed, and the amulet's color and tone from a general view.
The degree of moisture of the amulet, and it's effect on it's surface's appearance with age; oily, grossly, dry cracked.
The appearance of the surface with aging; mouldy/fungus, layer of oxide, layer of dried mud for cached/buried amulets, stains from oil, brown stains resulting from prolonged contact with decaying flowers left on amulets, stains from sprinkled water, or stains from aging of ink stamps, etc.
The composition of the powder's mixture of substances, such as filed metal dust, gold/silver leaves, grains, hairs, fabrics, burned leaves, crushes crystals/minerals, sand/stones, shredded leaves/petals, powder from old amulets, etc, being mixed into the powder.
The scent of the amulet, generally most Nur Phong/powder based mixture of amulets emits a fragance, mixed herb substance (Nur Wahn) produce a particular odour, flower/pollen based substance (Nur Kesorn) emits a flowery fragrance, but burned leaves (Bailan), incense ashes (Nur Phom Tut) and terracotta/clay/earthern sustances (Nur Din) in general have no scent.
The inserted takruts if any, and the aging of the takruts' metal, embedded crystals, laquered surface, etc.
The average size, thickness, deepness of imprint, significant coding/markings, cut marks at edges of the amulet if any.
Take note that the colour tone and the composite of the mixed powder may varied from piece to piece due to uneven mixing of materials, and when powder based amulets are kept in different atmospheres over time, they may ages differently and thus the end result is that they may look significantly different from piece to piece, the factors affecting the condition and appearance of powder based amulets are endless especially with aged amulets.
Examining Phong/powder based amulets relies on the knowledge of the substances used evident upon examining in detail, awareness of the color, size and space of the substances and how aging affects the surface. When examined in detailed under a 10X magnifying glass, it's like examining the terrain of a landscape.
The above guidelines and advises are made from a general point of view, not all points mentioned in this article are applicable, simply because every pieces are different and special in their own ways.
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