KARO BATAK / HYBRIDE SIKIN ATJEH ??

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by kai

While the blade may well come from Aceh, all the fittings do look Karo Batak to me: IMHO a good, genuine piece. It is known that the sikin / peudeueng panjang was also used in the Batak area but examples appear to be quite rare.

Hello Kai,
Well it is the Atjeh blade that made it attractive for me.
Your example is also very nice with the atjeh blade and batak fittings.
Especially the brass handle is very charming.

[Atlantia]

It's very nice Willem.
A good size too.

[Maurice]

Nice piece Willem!

It has just the right old patina on it all over....

[kai]

Hello Willem,

Well it is the Atjeh blade that made it attractive for me.

Yeah, it's a good example of a blade type diffusing to the periphery of a regional power and beyond.

Especially the brass handle is very charming.

Yup, both examples highlight the propensity to utilize brass for some Batak status pieces. While yours shows a status crown/calyx with a hulu rumpung, mine seems to be an attempt at a hulu tumpang beunteueng with a Batak-style silver collar. I find it interesting that both examples emulate hilts from the greater Aceh region (rather than utilizing one of the many Batak hilts) while the other fittings are typical Batak. However, these hilts are also of Batak craftmanship (note that both exhibit a stronger curved pommel than genuine Aceh hilts).

Regards,
Kai

[asomotif]

Yessss.... it arrived in good shape.
Took some pictures next to atjeh sikins for comparison.

[asomotif]

A few daylight pictures.

Notice that the blade is a sikin, but much rougher in finish.

[asomotif]

I was checking out the RMV Leiden collection for anothe thread about a rare batak sword.
Found not what I wanted... but found 2 pics to add to this thread.
The first described as batak, and the second as karo.

[asomotif]

new find. It is the size of a small sikin.

[Sajen]

Congrats Willem,

Very nice sword in good condition and great patination overall!

Regards,
Detlef