Golok or Pedang (Indonesian)

Boedhi Adhitya · 30th November 2005, 04:06 AM

I also had believed that this pedang came from Sumatera, but since I saw this pedang brought by local dealers from Lombok island while I was on keris exhibition in Bali last year, I was 'forced' to believe that this blade came from Lombok, not Sumatera. They brought nearly a sackful of this pedang, and some of them in newly made fitting with old blades. Even some relatively new, non-madura blade exist. The local dealer's 'hunting ground' is exclusively Lombok, and since Bali and Lombok is a nearby neighbouring islands, I saw them kept bringing freshly acquaired stuff nearly everyday, and made my 'keris fever' coming again.

The Lombok origins, perhaps, may explain the 'makara' look-like handle

best regards,

Boedhi Adhitya

Spunjer · 30th November 2005, 11:15 AM

salamat, boedhi!
in your opinion, would this be an older piece, or a newer one?

btw, here are the dimension:
total length (in scabbard)= 30"
total length (sword)= 29"
blade length= 23"
handle= 6"

btw, i took the liberty to polish the silver fittings on the scabbard and hilt...

Rick · 30th November 2005, 04:40 PM

Greetings Boedhi , thank you for the input !

The fellow who sold me my example many years ago also said that he purchased his in Lombok .

Do you suppose this is a sword of the Sasak people ?

Boedhi Adhitya · 6th December 2005, 06:50 AM

Dear Spunjer,
IMHO, you have a nice older blade, with a nice pamor pattern Balinese called 'Tambangan' (tambang=rope). I've heard that this pattern is a favourite one especially in Bali/Lombok area while in Java, many Javanese would avoid it since it look likes the 'Buntel Mayit' pattern, not a good one. But yours isn't Buntel Mayit since it has a steel core. I believe it would look more beautiful if you etch it properly. Good Luck!

Dear Rick,
I don't know for sure that this sword is exclusively used by Sasak people. I didn't ask the dealer for detail, while some of them, in fact, were Sasak Men. Well, too busy and dizzy watching (and sorting

) the blades. Sorry.

Best Regards,

Boedhi Adhitya

BluErf · 6th December 2005, 11:55 AM

I've always seen pedangs with this sort of hilt being attributed to Sumatra, and Adni manages to find a lot of these on his sourcing trips to Sumatra too. However, I would not be surprised that the Makara is a motif that has spread throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, given the pervasive Indian influences in the past.

I attach pictures of a Badik Makara carved by Mr Nik Rashidee. The posture of the Makara is reminiscent of the abstract Makara that you see on the pedangs.

Apparently, the collar of some sewar sheaths are also representations of the Makara with the trunk curled over the head.

The Makara is the vehicle of the goddess Ganga, and in India, it has been described as a sea monster with parts of many different animals, including the body of a crocodile. However, the Makara in southeast asia invariably always have features of an elephant. Some other parts commonly found on the southeast asian makara include tail of a fish, horns of a goat, tusks of a wild boar. Some versions also include the crown of a king.

Talking about the kakatua, some sewar and pedangs have abstract representations of the kakatua too. Look at this tumbuk lada, for instance. It looks like leaves and 'jantung pisang' (literally, heart of the banana - its the phallic-shaped part of the banana bunch) put together, but then, there's a kakatua form hidden in it.

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php

And then, there are the Moro kris and barong with the kakatua form on the pommel, and perhaps on the sheath too.

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php

Spunjer · 6th December 2005, 03:08 PM

once again, thanks Boedhi....

BluErf,

your collection looks great! do you have any other picture of your moro kris?

BluErf · 6th December 2005, 03:18 PM

The Badik Makara is not in my collection. More pictures of my Moro kris can be found here:

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

Go to pg 4 of the album. I think you may have seen the blade before because this kris was posted on this forum before.

30th November 2005, 04:40 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Sasak ? Greetings Boedhi , thank you for the input ! The fellow who sold me my example many years ago also said that he purchased his in Lombok . Do you suppose this is a sword of the Sasak people ?

6th December 2005, 11:55 AM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I've always seen pedangs with this sort of hilt being attributed to Sumatra, and Adni manages to find a lot of these on his sourcing trips to Sumatra too. However, I would not be surprised that the Makara is a motif that has spread throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, given the pervasive Indian influences in the past. I attach pictures of a Badik Makara carved by Mr Nik Rashidee. The posture of the Makara is reminiscent of the abstract Makara that you see on the pedangs. Apparently, the collar of some sewar sheaths are also representations of the Makara with the trunk curled over the head. The Makara is the vehicle of the goddess Ganga, and in India, it has been described as a sea monster with parts of many different animals, including the body of a crocodile. However, the Makara in southeast asia invariably always have features of an elephant. Some other parts commonly found on the southeast asian makara include tail of a fish, horns of a goat, tusks of a wild boar. Some versions also include the crown of a king. Talking about the kakatua, some sewar and pedangs have abstract representations of the kakatua too. Look at this tumbuk lada, for instance. It looks like leaves and 'jantung pisang' (literally, heart of the banana - its the phallic-shaped part of the banana bunch) put together, but then, there's a kakatua form hidden in it. http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php And then, there are the Moro kris and barong with the kakatua form on the pommel, and perhaps on the sheath too. http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php Attached Images

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30th November 2005, 04:06 AM	#1
Boedhi Adhitya Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 103	I also had believed that this pedang came from Sumatera, but since I saw this pedang brought by local dealers from Lombok island while I was on keris exhibition in Bali last year, I was 'forced' to believe that this blade came from Lombok, not Sumatera. They brought nearly a sackful of this pedang, and some of them in newly made fitting with old blades. Even some relatively new, non-madura blade exist. The local dealer's 'hunting ground' is exclusively Lombok, and since Bali and Lombok is a nearby neighbouring islands, I saw them kept bringing freshly acquaired stuff nearly everyday, and made my 'keris fever' coming again. The Lombok origins, perhaps, may explain the 'makara' look-like handle best regards, Boedhi Adhitya

30th November 2005, 11:15 AM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	salamat, boedhi! in your opinion, would this be an older piece, or a newer one? btw, here are the dimension: total length (in scabbard)= 30" total length (sword)= 29" blade length= 23" handle= 6" btw, i took the liberty to polish the silver fittings on the scabbard and hilt...

6th December 2005, 06:50 AM	#4
Boedhi Adhitya Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 103	Dear Spunjer, IMHO, you have a nice older blade, with a nice pamor pattern Balinese called 'Tambangan' (tambang=rope). I've heard that this pattern is a favourite one especially in Bali/Lombok area while in Java, many Javanese would avoid it since it look likes the 'Buntel Mayit' pattern, not a good one. But yours isn't Buntel Mayit since it has a steel core. I believe it would look more beautiful if you etch it properly. Good Luck! Dear Rick, I don't know for sure that this sword is exclusively used by Sasak people. I didn't ask the dealer for detail, while some of them, in fact, were Sasak Men. Well, too busy and dizzy watching (and sorting ) the blades. Sorry. Best Regards, Boedhi Adhitya

6th December 2005, 03:08 PM	#6
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	once again, thanks Boedhi.... BluErf, your collection looks great! do you have any other picture of your moro kris?

6th December 2005, 03:18 PM	#7
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The Badik Makara is not in my collection. More pictures of my Moro kris can be found here: http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php Go to pg 4 of the album. I think you may have seen the blade before because this kris was posted on this forum before.