Sunda golok variations
 

Hello dear members,

I have assembled some Sunda golok in the last few years, in the past they don't have been from great interest for me.
I have to state that this are very well worked blades and I doubt that only one of the shown examples are worked for those who travel.
I will show them piece by piece with a short description.

The possible oldest example in the collection, I would guess last quarter of the 19th century. Laminated blade, handle horn, carved as stylized makara, pierced through carved, low grade silver or mamas ferrule, scabbard two wooden slabs, two fine wooven rotan bands still present, scabbard mouth horn, foot (possible form from gobang scabbards) is missing.
58,5 cm inside scabbard, 55,8cm without, blade 42,5 cm, 9 mm thick at the base.

Second example I would place to the first quarter of the 20th century, very well worked example in all parts. Laminated blade razor sharp after I've polished out surface rust, handle horn with bone spacers, very fine and pierced through carved, shows as well a stylized makara, note the lying bird in up!, scabbard wood from two glued parts, scabbard mouth horn.
60,5 cm inside scabbard, 58 cm without, blade 41,5 cm and 7 mm thick at the base.

An example without scabbard, a piece which has seen extreme use, I would place it also at the first quarter of the 20th century, not sure about the blade but think it's laminated, very nice carved horn handle show makara. Bone inlayed eyes.
49,5 cm, blade 37 cm and 5 mm thick at base.

An example wich I would place to the second quarter of the 20th century. The surprisingly very well worked blade seems laminated, handle horn, simple carved as parrot head, wooden scabbard halfs hold from horn mouth piece and foot, horn bands around and a belt loop also from horn.
50 cm inside scabbard, 46 cm without, blade 33,5 cm and 8,5 mm thick at base.

An example either from second or third quarter of the 20th century, well worked but rough finished blade, unsure about the material, marked, note the spanish notch, handle from horn show a makara form, inlaid eyes, wooden scabbard halfs hold from several metal bands and foot, scabbard mouth from horn.
57 cm inside scabbard, 56,5 cm without, blade 42 cm and 6,5 mm thick at the base.

An example in the style which is most desired, easy to date, it's from 1909, handle and scabbard from wood, handle some form of makara, very well worked blade.
63 cm inside scabbard, 55 cm without, blade 40 cm and 8,5 mm thick at the base.

Overview!

Bird of prey
 

IMO the handle represents a bird of prey with a crooked beak and stylized feathers on the hilt and the lower end of the scabbard.

Thank you for comment Albert! :) Very good possible, at least it look like this. Any further information in this direction?

Regards,
Detlef

The White Bellied Sea Eagle is found in the area these goloks originate from; I agree with Albert that it is a raptor and certainly resembles an eagle's head. One of the animals that they prey upon is the poisonous Sea Snake. There might be some symbolism there to account for the use of the head of these birds as a decoration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-bellied_sea_eagle

I have a golok like this one we're discussing; the blade is a bit shorter at 13" and Tjikeroeh is spelled out rather than abbreviated; mine has no date.

Very interesting, Detlef! Thanks for sharing!

/Stefan

Thank you all!

I've attached by each piece a picture from the scabbard mouth since I think it's typical for Sunda.

Regards,
Detlef

A couple of relatives. I have quite a few of this size and style. These are the only two with eagle hilts. Dark hilt is horn dated 1940, the light is wood 1930.
Regards
Roy

Hello Roy,

Thank you for posting this two nice examples, a similar one is now on my wish list! ;) :D

When you don't mind feel free to post your other examples as well! :)

Regards,
Detlef

In the same family as the third in the original post. But a blade variant. Would we still call this a Sunda Golok? I hadn’t held one before this. And I wasn’t able to put it down when I picked it up. Great craftsmanship overall. Cheers

Yes, a very nice Sunda golok, sadly it's missing the scabbard mouth. But still a very nice piece! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef:

There is a related family of golok and sword versions that have European style hilts and also bear the name of Tjikeroeh or Cipitang. These appear to have been made for the Dutch Colonial/European markets and have been discussed here previously. Typically, these relatives come in plain black wooden scabbards with brass chape and locket. Some of them have clipped blades resembling the "Dutch klewang" used by colonial troops. Dated examples indicate manufacture at the end of the 19th and early 20th C, up to the 1930s.

Ian

SOME MORE
 

Hi Detlef,
Here are some of them all of similar size. I am not certain that they are all from Sunda, but they are similar.

Hi Ian,

Yes, I know them, thank you for connect the two threads! :)

Regards,
Detlef

Thank you Roy! :)

I think that not all are of Sunda manufacture, the down one at the second picture for example, I personally can't place it exactly.

On the third and fourth picture I also doubt that these examples of Sunda origin, one has an handle I've seen by rawits. The other one maybe Banjarmasin origin?

The one on the right at the fifth picture I guess is of Malay origin.

The one on the last picture look a little bit Visayan!? :shrug:

But a big bulk is indeed from Sunda IMVHO.


Regards,
Detlef

This two examples will enter the collection soon!

Some really impressive pieces! I bet you are having trouble finding space for so many blades...like me! ;)

Hello Detlef & Charles!

Yeah, some good and varied examples - will comment later.

Close-ups of the inscription on the last one would be good!


No worries, I'm here to help both of you! Just give me a heads-up... ;) :D

Regards,
Kai

Thank you Charles! :) And yes, indeed, space is running out! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

Hello Kai,

Thank you as well.

Have attached a picture from the auction house, will post a better one when I have the piece in my hands!



Very kind! :D But I am surprised that you still have space! :eek:

Regards,
Detlef

Another one will enter the collection. Note the different handle style.

Sadly they don't will enter my collection! :( The auction house stated that a bidder in room bid the same amount I gave online. :rolleyes:

But I get this one, a nice example which seems to have seen a lot of action, see the pictures where you can see the edge.
Unusual is the handle which show indeed Makara instead of the usual seen bird of prey.
It's 66,5 cm long inside scabbard, 59,5 cm without, blade is approx. 44 cm and 9 mm thick behind the handle. A very well worked blade!

A few more pictures.