Indonesian ? spear for I.D. and comment

fernando · 5th June 2011, 01:22 PM

Hand made rings ... right?

colin henshaw · 5th June 2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Hand made rings ... right?

I have examined the rings carefully, and although they are quite regular, I think they have been cut by hand, as opposed to by any type of lathe.

Maurice · 5th June 2011, 08:12 PM

Thank you Colin for the image of the wooden shaft.

I looked around here and there if I was able to find a similar lance.
But unfortunately I didn't!

But I vote for Borneo!

Not quite dayak, but in some area of Borneo where also Malay or Indonesian people or other outlandish people were wandering around...

Kind Regards,
Maurice

colin henshaw · 8th June 2011, 02:49 PM

Hi Maurice,

Interesting viewpoint on the origin of this spear. Now you mention it...the profile of the steel blade is quite like those to be often found lashed to the tip of Dayak blowpipes.

Do you have any references/illustrations you can post ?

Best regards
Colin

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Thank you Colin for the image of the wooden shaft.

I looked around here and there if I was able to find a similar lance.
But unfortunately I didn't!

But I vote for Borneo!

Not quite dayak, but in some area of Borneo where also Malay or Indonesian people or other outlandish people were wandering around...

Kind Regards,
Maurice

Maurice · 8th June 2011, 06:56 PM

That's indeed what I was insinuating, but also some spearheads from Borneo have this shape (not only the blowpipes)...
Also I've seen silver ferrules on spears with provenance from Borneo, and also I've seen such decoration on a wooden shaft of Borneo spears before.
But I could be mistaken ofcourse. But for me it feels like it has some Borneo features...

Is the part where the spearhead is entering the ferrule (accented yellow) as flat as the blade itself?
On the dayak lances and blowpipes I've had in the past and still have, this part was also flat as the whole tang, which is attached on the wooden shaft with braided ratan...(see examples).

Henk · 8th June 2011, 09:02 PM

Maurice,

I hate to admit it but you could be very right that this is a Borneo spear. Just checked my sumpitam and spear from Borneo. The spearblades have more or less the same profile. The silver ferrule gave me by the book by Zonneveld the conclusion Aceh. Now I go for Borneo as well.
Detail on my spear is that the blade is mounted as a sumpitamblade.

colin henshaw · 19th June 2011, 03:41 PM

Hi Maurice

Apologies for the late reply. Yes, this part is of much the same profile as the blade. Here is an image.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

That's indeed what I was insinuating, but also some spearheads from Borneo have this shape (not only the blowpipes)...
Also I've seen silver ferrules on spears with provenance from Borneo, and also I've seen such decoration on a wooden shaft of Borneo spears before.
But I could be mistaken ofcourse. But for me it feels like it has some Borneo features...

Is the part where the spearhead is entering the ferrule (accented yellow) as flat as the blade itself?
On the dayak lances and blowpipes I've had in the past and still have, this part was also flat as the whole tang, which is attached on the wooden shaft with braided ratan...(see examples).

Maurice · 19th June 2011, 05:37 PM

Thanks for the image Colin.
Always different these spears to nail down the origin.

But I like to research them and "try" to find out more about them.
Thanks Henk, glad I've got you at my side now! :-)

Still vote for Borneo!

5th June 2011, 08:12 PM	#3
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,453	Thank you Colin for the image of the wooden shaft. I looked around here and there if I was able to find a similar lance. But unfortunately I didn't! But I vote for Borneo! Not quite dayak, but in some area of Borneo where also Malay or Indonesian people or other outlandish people were wandering around... Kind Regards, Maurice Last edited by Maurice; 5th June 2011 at 08:56 PM.

8th June 2011, 06:56 PM	#5
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,453	That's indeed what I was insinuating, but also some spearheads from Borneo have this shape (not only the blowpipes)... Also I've seen silver ferrules on spears with provenance from Borneo, and also I've seen such decoration on a wooden shaft of Borneo spears before. But I could be mistaken ofcourse. But for me it feels like it has some Borneo features... Is the part where the spearhead is entering the ferrule (accented yellow) as flat as the blade itself? On the dayak lances and blowpipes I've had in the past and still have, this part was also flat as the whole tang, which is attached on the wooden shaft with braided ratan...(see examples). Attached Images

5th June 2011, 01:22 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hand made rings ... right?

8th June 2011, 09:02 PM	#6
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Maurice, I hate to admit it but you could be very right that this is a Borneo spear. Just checked my sumpitam and spear from Borneo. The spearblades have more or less the same profile. The silver ferrule gave me by the book by Zonneveld the conclusion Aceh. Now I go for Borneo as well. Detail on my spear is that the blade is mounted as a sumpitamblade.

19th June 2011, 05:37 PM	#8
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,453	Thanks for the image Colin. Always different these spears to nail down the origin. But I like to research them and "try" to find out more about them. Thanks Henk, glad I've got you at my side now! :-) Still vote for Borneo!