Weapons of North Sumatra (Volz 1906)

kai · 1st March 2017, 08:40 AM

Hello Roland,

Quote:

This are pictures from a german Expedition book through North Sumatra in 1904-1906.

For those preferring a PDF, Arjan has a file for download here .

The 2-volume book "Nord-Sumatra" by Volz (1909/1912) is indeed a very important early source (and well worth thumbing through even if your German language skill is not up to it). One has to realize that some of these cultures were terra incognita and no go areas till the end of the 19th century or even well into the 20th century until the Dutch managed to grasp firm colonial control (soon to be lost to the Japanese and post-WW2 turmoils)!

Quote:

I believe it could be nice to see some real examples. I start with a Batak Kalasan with Sukul Nganga hilt as a dagger with an old high quality Takablade.

Looks like a neat Karo piece - looking forward to seeing close-ups and, especially, the blade (preferably pre- and post-TLC)!

I believe it will help the exposure of these nice Batak weapons if examples like this are posted and discussed in a dedicated thread for each piece rather than getting lumped into a thread in coffee table book style which makes discussions rather complex and less focused! (The historic figures show pieces from over 7 quite distinct cultures and the area harbors quite a few more...)

Regards,
Kai

Gavin Nugent · 1st March 2017, 09:27 AM

Thank you very much for presenting this little known work here, I look forward to seeing how the thread develops.

Kai, thank you for the PDF file too. Question, I can only see three plates in the PDF? Roland presents more. is the full work available on PDF?

With thanks

Gavin

Roland_M · 1st March 2017, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Thank you very much for presenting this little known work here, I look forward to seeing how the thread develops.

Kai, thank you for the PDF file too. Question, I can only see three plates in the PDF? Roland presents more. is the full work available on PDF?

With thanks

Gavin

Hello Gevin,

I have two books, one about the Batak-lands, the other one about the Gajo-lands. The pdf contains only part one.

My pictures are fastly made with a camera, if the pictures are really useful, I can make high quality scans from them.

Roland

Gavin Nugent · 1st March 2017, 10:03 AM

Here are a few example Roland.
I've some Lopah somewhere too...and other pieces laying around...

Gavin

mariusgmioc · 1st March 2017, 10:44 AM

Briliant!

Thank you Roland!

kai · 2nd March 2017, 09:56 AM

Hello Gavin,

Quote:

Question, I can only see three plates in the PDF? Roland presents more.

Yes, the PDF has the Batak pieces from volume 1 only. I believe Arjan had a PDF with the pertinent plates from volume 2 (Gayo/Alas), too. It's certainly worth checking out his downloads...

Quote:

is the full work available on PDF?

I have only found the second volume online (scanned from a recent facsimile reprint):
https://books.google.de/books?id=2dpVAQAAQBAJ

Here is a link to the first volume (Batak):
https://books.google.de/books?id=XgNXAAAAMAAJ

Regards,
Kai

kai · 2nd March 2017, 12:43 PM

Original copies of both volumes are usually quite expensive.

For those who would like an affordable working copy, there are facsimile reprints available: Literaricon Verlag has both volumes (reprint 2015) and there are at least 2 other publishers also offering volume 2 (reprint 2013 and 2014). I can't vouch for the printing quality though.

I don't want to post any commercial links; if you have problems finding these online, just drop me a line...

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 24th July 2017, 06:32 PM

Here some pictures from the both examples of my collection.

kai · 24th July 2017, 07:06 PM

Hello Detlef,

Nice examples!

I'd suggest to discuss pieces that are not connected to the expeditions by Volz in separate threads though...

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 24th July 2017, 07:24 PM

Hello Kai,

yes, they are good honest examples and Roland ask for pictures. I doubt that they are worth for an own thread!?

Regards,
Detlef

Roland_M · 1st March 2017, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Roland,

Looks like a neat Karo piece - looking forward to seeing close-ups and, especially, the blade (preferably pre- and post-TLC)!

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

thank you and I think I will make a complete thread about the Kalasan in the next few days. I received the Kalasan just five days ago, so the blade is almost untouched by me, at least until now

. Seems to have a beautiful hamon.

Roland

DaveA · 2nd March 2017, 09:13 AM

Will you please provide the complete citation for the book? Thank you.

Dave A.

kai · 2nd March 2017, 09:43 AM

Volz, Wilhelm. 1909/1912. Nord-Sumatra. Bericht über eine im Auftrag der Humboldt-Stiftung der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin in den Jahren 1904-1906 ausgeführte Forschungsreise. Berlin, Dietrich Reimer (Ernst Vohsen) [publisher].
Band I. Die Batakländer. 1909. XXI+396 pp. & 3 maps.
Band II. Die Gajoländer. 1912. XXI+428 pp. & 2 maps.
[if the German "Umlaute" don't display correctly: ue = ü; oe = ö; ae = ä]

1st March 2017, 10:03 AM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Here are a few example Roland. I've some Lopah somewhere too...and other pieces laying around... Gavin Attached Images

24th July 2017, 06:32 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Here some pictures from the both examples of my collection. Attached Images

2nd March 2017, 09:13 AM	#12
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 415	Citation Will you please provide the complete citation for the book? Thank you. Dave A.

2nd March 2017, 09:43 AM	#13
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Volz, Wilhelm. 1909/1912. Nord-Sumatra. Bericht über eine im Auftrag der Humboldt-Stiftung der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin in den Jahren 1904-1906 ausgeführte Forschungsreise. Berlin, Dietrich Reimer (Ernst Vohsen) [publisher]. Band I. Die Batakländer. 1909. XXI+396 pp. & 3 maps. Band II. Die Gajoländer. 1912. XXI+428 pp. & 2 maps. [if the German "Umlaute" don't display correctly: ue = ü; oe = ö; ae = ä] Last edited by kai; 2nd March 2017 at 10:06 AM.

1st March 2017, 09:27 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Thank you very much for presenting this little known work here, I look forward to seeing how the thread develops. Kai, thank you for the PDF file too. Question, I can only see three plates in the PDF? Roland presents more. is the full work available on PDF? With thanks Gavin

1st March 2017, 10:44 AM	#5
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	Briliant! Thank you Roland!

2nd March 2017, 12:43 PM	#7
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Original copies of both volumes are usually quite expensive. For those who would like an affordable working copy, there are facsimile reprints available: Literaricon Verlag has both volumes (reprint 2015) and there are at least 2 other publishers also offering volume 2 (reprint 2013 and 2014). I can't vouch for the printing quality though. I don't want to post any commercial links; if you have problems finding these online, just drop me a line... Regards, Kai

24th July 2017, 07:06 PM	#9
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Detlef, Nice examples! I'd suggest to discuss pieces that are not connected to the expeditions by Volz in separate threads though... Regards, Kai

24th July 2017, 07:24 PM	#10
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Hello Kai, yes, they are good honest examples and Roland ask for pictures. I doubt that they are worth for an own thread!? Regards, Detlef