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Originally Posted by Ian
John:
The"bud" at the end of the hilt -- could that be a lotus flower? If so, does that give a clue to which tribal group might have such a motif? I don't recall a lotus symbol being used widely in Isalmic art. More likely Buddhist, but then that does not fit well with Sumatra.
Interesting.
Ian
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Ian
Hindu and Buddist influences were noted to be in Aceh as early as the first century AD. From what I can find there is still a great deal of this seen in their arts and crafts. Several things about that and the design fit with this. Barbara Leigh describes the motifs falling into 5 categories:geometric, vegetable life, bird life, other faunal life and islamic motifs. The casusarona seed, lotus , and bamboo playing prominant roles in the vegetative motifs. The way the designs are separated by border into the separate motifs also fit in with what has been called "a grammer of design", is a characteristic in Indonesian art. Thats a great thought about the style pinning it down to a certain tribal group. That may take someone on the ground there to find out. I do not know of any references that would give us this information. But I have found few that give much specific information on these swords.
Here are the pictures of the sword tip. The blade is positioned edge up false edge down.
As to this syle of blade here is one that Therion used to have I do not know if he still does
http://www.therionarms.com/pictures/sikkin.jpg
This one is in the KIT, in Holland
http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/...peudeueng1.bmp
Again to whoever got this sword congratualtions on a good sword at a very good price. I would have gone much above this if it was not Christmas and all my funds tied up for that.