Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

A. G. Maisey · 22nd October 2008, 10:54 PM

I can see a lot of Jawa in this weapon.

I understand why you have nominated Bali, Rick, but old Javanese blades had the same finish that we are used to seeing on Bali blades. If you see old blades that were made in Jawa pre, say, 1900, and that have not been subjected to periodic cleaning and staining, what you see is a finish that we would call a Balinese finish.

Apart from which, Bali at the time when this blade would have been made had virtually no European influence. Jawa had a lot of European influence, to the point where the aristocrats were even adopting and adapting European dress.

I think I'd be inclined to call this piece 19th. century Jawa.

22nd October 2008, 10:54 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	I can see a lot of Jawa in this weapon. I understand why you have nominated Bali, Rick, but old Javanese blades had the same finish that we are used to seeing on Bali blades. If you see old blades that were made in Jawa pre, say, 1900, and that have not been subjected to periodic cleaning and staining, what you see is a finish that we would call a Balinese finish. Apart from which, Bali at the time when this blade would have been made had virtually no European influence. Jawa had a lot of European influence, to the point where the aristocrats were even adopting and adapting European dress. I think I'd be inclined to call this piece 19th. century Jawa.