Thick knife frome Bali/Lombok

SidJ · 4th April 2025, 11:08 PM

A Jawa wedhung was auctioned as part of the fabled Missilier collection recently. Lot 315 for those interested. This is the write-up. I am not sure if wedhung were used for funerary purposes not least because Jawa is Islamic and the practice referred to may be more Hindu Balinese. Anyway, any thoughts welcome -

Javanese ritual knife used by priests during funeral ceremonies, to symbolically sever ties with the world of the living. This example is particularly luxurious, with a handle in fossilized mastodon tooth and gilded metal, and a wooden scabbard decorated with gold thread instead of the usual rattan. It features a horn belt hook. This piece was probably intended for royal funeral rites.

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4th April 2025, 11:08 PM	#32
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 207	A Jawa wedhung was auctioned as part of the fabled Missilier collection recently. Lot 315 for those interested. This is the write-up. I am not sure if wedhung were used for funerary purposes not least because Jawa is Islamic and the practice referred to may be more Hindu Balinese. Anyway, any thoughts welcome - Javanese ritual knife used by priests during funeral ceremonies, to symbolically sever ties with the world of the living. This example is particularly luxurious, with a handle in fossilized mastodon tooth and gilded metal, and a wooden scabbard decorated with gold thread instead of the usual rattan. It features a horn belt hook. This piece was probably intended for royal funeral rites.