Peudeueng peusangan from Aceh

[Peter Dekker]

Hello guys,

Something I wanted to share with you. A Sumatran saber from the Aceh region, described locally as peudeueng peusangan with a "hulu meu apet" Indian styled basket hilt. This particular one has some condition issues, but it makes up for some of that with its rather spectacular grip covered with an intricate basket pattern of pale gold colored wire, I'm guessing brass.

It seems to have a western import blade. It is relatively thin and springy, with three fullers and a false backedge. There is a marking on the base that looks British to me. If so, I wonder whether it is from the time that the British East India Company was still present in Aceh.

Thoughts / comments very welcome!

[Maurice]

Hello guys,

Something I wanted to share with you. A Sumatran saber from the Aceh region, described locally as peudeueng peusangan with a "hulu meu apet" Indian styled basket hilt. This particular one has some condition issues, but it makes up for some of that with its rather spectacular grip covered with an intricate basket pattern of pale gold colored wire, I'm guessing brass.

It seems to have a western import blade. It is relatively thin and springy, with three fullers and a false backedge. There is a marking on the base that looks British to me. If so, I wonder whether it is from the time that the British East India Company was still present in Aceh.

Thoughts / comments very welcome!

A nice peudeueng Peter!

The wire probably is gilded silver (the one I owned had the same).
A pity the precious golden top with enamel and stones is missing.

Also blades with mark is something I have seen (and owned) before.
It was also a peudeueng.
The museum in Leiden also has one with a similar mark on the blade, and is also written about in the catalogue.

Find more in this old thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13866&highlight=warranted

Kind regards,
Maurice

[Battara]

Congratulations Peter! I agree with Maurice.

It is either gilded silver or perhaps a silver/gold alloy (I have a Moro barong and a Aceh rencong with this type of alloy).

[Peter Dekker]

Thanks much, guys. Very helpful! Interesting to see that there are quite a few around with similar markings.

A pity the precious golden top with enamel and stones is missing.

A pity indeed! Do you happen to have any example of what that may have looked like?

I'm thinking the wire wrap is made out of a silver-gold alloy rather than a plating, because it seems quite solid also after cleaning. It was black when I got it, similar to what you'd expect to find on old silver.

Peter

[Roland_M]

Congratulations, a very beautiful saber.

In the last picture I can see laminations (below the warranty inscription), so i think it is either laminated mono steel or pattern welded steel.

Maybe the blade is from Asia and was proved and tested in Europe or from an European company in Asia or so.


Roland

[Maurice]

Do you happen to have any example of what that may have looked like?

Peter

Here a (bad) photo of the top of a peudeueng which once was in my private collection, and now in a good friends collection.

Maurice

[Maurice]

Here the best I have ever seen, and in the Bronbeek museum collection.
Lots of gold, and belonged to teuku Umar.

[asomotif]

I'm thinking the wire wrap is made out of a silver-gold alloy rather than a plating, because it seems quite solid also after cleaning. It was black when I got it, similar to what you'd expect to find on old silver.

Peter

Hello Peter,

Nice example. specially with this gold alloy wire.

I agree that it must be some alloy. Gilded would not last so long on a hilt wrapping imo.

Best regards,
Willem

[Peter Dekker]

Thanks for the additional pics! The one you had looks beautiful.

On a recent trip to Indonesia I encountered this one in their national museum. That one was not too shabby, either, and resembles the work on the one you used to have.

Unfortunately the cabinet seemed tightly secured and I didn't have a bag big enough to conceal it anyway so I just made some pics and left without breaking any laws. ;) See pics below.

Looking at mine, I wonder if it had something at the pommel like that. It could have been, as the plate I see now is not decorated like the rest of the hilt, and may have once been covered with something else.

[Maurice]

Thank you for sharing this one Peter.
It has one of the most beautifull handle I have seen so far!

Maurice

[asomotif]

Thanks for sharing indeed.
A variation that I have not seen before with a handguard with enamel.

Ps. can you post a picture of the top of the hilt of your example ?
You mention a plate. would like to see a picture of it.

Best regards,
Willem

[ariel]

It is interesting how the Achenese adopted foreign forms: Piso Podang from the Portugese ( "espadao"), the handle " hulu meu apet" from Indian Gulabhati, and here the British blade.

[Robert]

Until I can ascertain if this sword is currently for sale or not I am closing this thread.

Robert