Pedang from Bali or Lombok?

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Gavin,

This is the pedang coming from you, indeed - thanks!

Any source info that I didn't pulled from you already? How thick was the rust you had to remove after acquisition? Any hints on prior storage?

Regards,
Kai

Hi Kai,

As you received it is how I received it, nothing altered, nothing removed or applied, just clove oiled and wrapped in foil as was your request for the storage.
I think the previous owner liked BIG things as I also received a 124cms Jian from the same collection.
If not previously mentioned it was an EU collection, beyond that I have no history.
Its true origins elude me but I am certain the hilt was original to it, albiet not well preserved but repaired as you were aware.
Origins, Bali? Lombok?
What about Java and or Sumatra/Palembang? I only suggest this based on the blade profile for Java (disregarding the deep fullers) and Sumatra based on the hilt construction of the silver over timber and also the tip for some reason reminds be of some Bugis Keris is its facets.

I look forward to seeing more of these large, heavy, broad robust types surface in conversation.

Gavin

[kai]

As you received it is how I received it, nothing altered, nothing removed or applied, just clove oiled and wrapped in foil as was your request for the storage.

Thanks for confirmation, Gavin! The cleaning tray pics suggested some initial emergency work but good to know that the blade surface did not suffer from long-time collection storage as my cleaning was minimal.

Its true origins elude me but I am certain the hilt was original to it, albiet not well preserved but repaired as you were aware.

Yes, see below on the hilt.

Origins, Bali? Lombok?
What about Java and or Sumatra/Palembang? I only suggest this based on the blade profile for Jave (disregarding the deep fullers) and Sumatra based on the hilt construction of the silver over timber and also the tip for some reason reminds be of some Bugis Keris is its facets.

I hope Alan can give a more authoritative answer on things Jawa. He recently had an extremely nice pedang following typical Jawa aesthetics.

While Sumatran blades can have very exquisite fullering, this doesn't strike me as a likely origin for the pedang under discussion.

Based mainly on the hilt, I also considered a possible Bugis origin, indeed! However, the blade as well as the hilt are way more hefty than anything I've seen coming from Gowa or Bone...

I will try to post a decent pic of the hilt later but would like the discussion to center on the blade for the time being.

I look forward to seeing more of these large, heavy, broad robust types surface in conversation.

Hope so, too - keep them coming!

Regards,
Kai

[A. G. Maisey]

Kai, to my eye this blade bears the signs of Balinese workmanship, however I am not prepared to have any guesses at geographic point of origin, it could be Bali itself, Balinese colony in Lombok, Balinese influence in East Jawa, even Balinese influence in Madura.

Remnants of whatever dress you have might help.

If this were mine, I would be inclined to dress it in plain storage scabbard and hilt, rather than try to imitate an historic style.