Help ID - Indonesia, ancestor figures?
 

Hello all,

I acquired this knife recently. I have an interest in ancestor figures on edged weapons and scabbards as design features with various degrees of symbolic importance.

I came upon this thread and perhaps it provides a clue: Tanimbar Moluccas, Indonesia?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=Ancestor

These are the seller's pictures. After I clean it up a bit and work on that rust, I'll have new pictures to share.

Does anyone recognize this knife or design or can comment?

Best Regards,

Dave A.

I believe it's Batak.

Agreed, Rick. I was about to say the same.

Piso Batak
 

Thanks very much. That it might be Batak was in the back of my head and was my first impression until I saw the other thread.

Superficially, the shape and carvings resemble the Batak Piso Gaja Dompak with the exception that no elephant is depicted on the hilt. So I suspected it was in that style, but of far lesser prestige than the kingly Piso Gaja Dompak.

Links below are to original; Google translate is a big help :)

Wikipedia article

Piso Gaja Dompak as royal pusaka

Comments? Any notions of age?

Hello Dave,

It's a Toba Batak knife, see this threads:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=toba+batak
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=toba+batak
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=toba+batak

This one seems to have some age, please show pictures when you have cleaned the blade.

Regards,
Detlef