LOMBOK SWORD

CharlesS · 5th December 2005, 02:03 AM

Absolutely gorgeous piece!! I am wondering if the chape was perhaps recarved later, perhaps after damage. It is so ornate and delicate it is not practical or typical of chapes seen on most Indo-Malay pieces. The age certainly seems to match with the scabbard mouth though.

VVV · 6th December 2005, 11:24 PM

Very nice find Carlos!
I suspect that this is a presentation pedang - Sote is one of the names (disclaimer - not being Balinese speaking I am not sure how to use it).
As explained to me those where used at "political and court meetings" similar to European dress swords.
Maybe that's the reason for the unpractical chape (according to Charles)?
I have one myself and also assumed it was Lombok. But the Seller, who is regulary visiting Indonesia and also very acquinted with the culture, insisted that mine was Bali (even after I payed for it!).
And mine even has a redpainted scabbard which I usually connect to Lombok.

Michael

nechesh · 7th December 2005, 12:44 AM

Michael, the styles and traditions of Bali and Lombok are just about Identical. I think it would be VERY difficult, without provenence, to judge which precise origin this blade has. Lombok was ruled by the Balinese court for many years.

VVV · 7th December 2005, 07:21 AM

Nechesh,

I forgot to mention that the seller had bought it directly from the
family of the previous owner (on the provenance).
Yes, it's difficult to separate Bali and Lombok weapons so I always
try to doublecheck. As you know even if it was bought in f.i. Bali it could still be Lombok vice versa. That happened to me 11 years ago in Lombok.

Michael

5th December 2005, 02:03 AM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Absolutely gorgeous piece!! I am wondering if the chape was perhaps recarved later, perhaps after damage. It is so ornate and delicate it is not practical or typical of chapes seen on most Indo-Malay pieces. The age certainly seems to match with the scabbard mouth though.

6th December 2005, 11:24 PM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Very nice find Carlos! I suspect that this is a presentation pedang - Sote is one of the names (disclaimer - not being Balinese speaking I am not sure how to use it). As explained to me those where used at "political and court meetings" similar to European dress swords. Maybe that's the reason for the unpractical chape (according to Charles)? I have one myself and also assumed it was Lombok. But the Seller, who is regulary visiting Indonesia and also very acquinted with the culture, insisted that mine was Bali (even after I payed for it!). And mine even has a redpainted scabbard which I usually connect to Lombok. Michael

7th December 2005, 12:44 AM	#3
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Michael, the styles and traditions of Bali and Lombok are just about Identical. I think it would be VERY difficult, without provenence, to judge which precise origin this blade has. Lombok was ruled by the Balinese court for many years.

7th December 2005, 07:21 AM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nechesh, I forgot to mention that the seller had bought it directly from the family of the previous owner (on the provenance). Yes, it's difficult to separate Bali and Lombok weapons so I always try to doublecheck. As you know even if it was bought in f.i. Bali it could still be Lombok vice versa. That happened to me 11 years ago in Lombok. Michael