RINTJONG / REUNTJONG ( aka RENCONG )

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody! :)

Thought I'd take these pix and share, before I clean them and put them away.
Apologies for the quality. I got a bit exasperated as I couldn't get the camera to disengage the flash and I was running out of time.

TOP:
Name: Laksamana Inong Balee
Type: Rintjong Meupoetjok Oelee Lapan Sagoe c1755

BOTTOM:
Name: Iboe Prboe
Type: Rintjong Siwaih c1850

Enjoy!

Best,

P.S. I tried to swap the photos' order; failed dismally!
P.P.S. Finally succeeded! :)

[Battara]

Thank you so much! I love rankings (but have only one :( ). Very informative in a short thread. To me they seem quite unique and beautiful.

4 questions:

a. To which one does the scabbard belong?

b. At the end of the wood handled one, is that brass or gold of some kind?

c. In general what are the metals used in both of these - I see silver, suassa, and... (?)

d. Finally, where does each one originate?

[kai]

Hello Jose,

the scabbard is from a keris Gayo. Pics would be great, too! ;)

The third color is most likely gold; I have a modest Batak example with brass hilt and silver sleeve. Typical examples have the octagonal lapan sagu/sagi hilt covered in suassa or gold, often with gold decorations at the base and inside the notched pommel.

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Hullo AM! :)

Thought I'd take these pix and share, before I clean them and put them away.

Thanks a lot! There are so few examples surviving and even fewer in private collections that the opportunity to see any is very much appreciated!

How old would you estimate this variant lapan sagu hilt to be? Any idea of provenance and origin?


Also a neat sewar/siwaih! Looks Gayo to me, indeed.


Type: Rintjong Meupoetjok Oelee Lapan Sagoe c1755
Type: Rintjong Siwaih c1850

Is there any reason why you tie the name rintjong=rencong to otherwise well defined types (sikin/luju/piso lapan sagu/sagi and sewar/siwaih)? I've seen the former name only used with the characteristic N Sumatran blade rather than other types of Sumatran blades...

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

I was thinking that that was a gayo sewar!

Is the other truly a rencong?

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody! :)

In my initial post:
"Type: Rintjong Meupoetjok Oelee Lapan Sagoe c1755”, should be: Rintjong Meupoetjok Oelee Toempang Beunteueng Kelah Lapan Sagoe c1755.
Apologies.

Best,

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody! :) (again)
I don’t normally revisit a post unless it is to edit/add or I’m expecting a response. So, apologies for my late response.

Battara:

a. The sheath belongs to the siwaih. It wasn’t meant to be in the pix, but it was the closest thing to me to prop up the blades thus reducing shadow.

b. The cap on the top of the handle is Atjeh gold (18K).

c. Materials are: silver, suasa (<50% gold with copper alloy, mostly) and Atjeh gold.

d. As far as I’m concerned, the siwaih is from Gajo and the meuputjok from outside Atjeh.


kai:

- In answer to your first question, the meupoetjok: c.1755 (also see my reply to Battara). I am satisfied with their origins.
- I follow a particular Atjeh protocol whereby all such items come under one ‘umbrella’, reuntjong/rintjong:
reuntjong=particular term
rintjong=general term
rencong=Bahasa term

Best,

[Battara]

Thank you for your elaborations!

Would you please post a picture of the full scabbard?