Miniature Bali Belakas Pengentas??

Athanase · 26th November 2017, 05:31 PM

Hello,

I found this two miniature axes at the same antique dealer.
It looks a lot like Pengentas Belakas but much smaller ones.
The sharp edges are very sharp and that with the "Semar"? is a damask blade (we can see the alternation of layers on the edge but I have not managed to make pictures that shows).

Semar : 9,5cm without pesi
Mouse : 8cm without pesi

It's ritual blades?
What is their symbolic? and / or function?

Athanase · 30th November 2017, 10:29 PM

Nobody knows any information on it?
Are they souvenirs for tourists?

Sajen · 2nd December 2017, 01:48 PM

Sorry, never seen something similar before!

Athanase · 2nd December 2017, 07:44 PM

OK, thanks.
The problem with this kind of unusual find is that it's often very difficult to find information on it. Especially if you aren't from the culture that produces its items.

A. G. Maisey · 3rd December 2017, 09:00 PM

Athanase, I have seen a few of these, they are a legitimate part of Balinese culture.

I have not previously posted to this thread because I really do not know much about them, and I had hoped that somebody else might know more than I do and would be able to respond better to your question.

In about 1982 I visited Mangku Pande Made Wija who lived in a little village just outside Klungkung. He had just completed a keris that Dietrich Drescher had ordered from him, and he asked me to advise Mr Drescher that it was ready for him to collect. I examined the keris and complemented Pande Wija on his work.

I then asked what sort of things he usually made, and he showed me a basketfull of axe blades of the type you have, but they were not yet decorated with silver.

I asked what these were used for, and he gave me a long complicated response that I did not fully understand, but the impression I got was that they were for use in cremation ceremonies, mainly for cutting the ropes that bind up a corpse.

The rather poor photo (2011) of a much more elaborate example of the same type of hand axe in the Den Pasar Museum supports my understanding of Pande Wija's explanation.

I have never seen this type of hand axe for sale in markets in Bali, neither local markets nor tourist markets.

Sajen · 3rd December 2017, 09:55 PM

Hello Alan,

do you have recognized the measurements of the two blades from Athanase? I can't believe that such small blades are for real use!?

Regards,
Detlef

26th November 2017, 05:31 PM	#1
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 417	Miniature Bali Belakas Pengentas?? Hello, I found this two miniature axes at the same antique dealer. It looks a lot like Pengentas Belakas but much smaller ones. The sharp edges are very sharp and that with the "Semar"? is a damask blade (we can see the alternation of layers on the edge but I have not managed to make pictures that shows). Semar : 9,5cm without pesi Mouse : 8cm without pesi It's ritual blades? What is their symbolic? and / or function? Attached Images

3rd December 2017, 09:00 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Athanase, I have seen a few of these, they are a legitimate part of Balinese culture. I have not previously posted to this thread because I really do not know much about them, and I had hoped that somebody else might know more than I do and would be able to respond better to your question. In about 1982 I visited Mangku Pande Made Wija who lived in a little village just outside Klungkung. He had just completed a keris that Dietrich Drescher had ordered from him, and he asked me to advise Mr Drescher that it was ready for him to collect. I examined the keris and complemented Pande Wija on his work. I then asked what sort of things he usually made, and he showed me a basketfull of axe blades of the type you have, but they were not yet decorated with silver. I asked what these were used for, and he gave me a long complicated response that I did not fully understand, but the impression I got was that they were for use in cremation ceremonies, mainly for cutting the ropes that bind up a corpse. The rather poor photo (2011) of a much more elaborate example of the same type of hand axe in the Den Pasar Museum supports my understanding of Pande Wija's explanation. I have never seen this type of hand axe for sale in markets in Bali, neither local markets nor tourist markets. Attached Images

30th November 2017, 10:29 PM	#2
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 417	Nobody knows any information on it? Are they souvenirs for tourists?

2nd December 2017, 01:48 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Sorry, never seen something similar before!

2nd December 2017, 07:44 PM	#4
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 417	OK, thanks. The problem with this kind of unusual find is that it's often very difficult to find information on it. Especially if you aren't from the culture that produces its items.

3rd December 2017, 09:55 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Hello Alan, do you have recognized the measurements of the two blades from Athanase? I can't believe that such small blades are for real use!? Regards, Detlef