Which deity does this Bali handle represent?

Jean · 8th February 2018, 09:19 AM

Hello Paul,
Could you please post a side view of your hilt in order to better assess its attribute and head-dress? Do I see a bintulu eye at the bottom of the tumpal motif?
From the patina (is it natural or artificial?) this hilt seems to have some age so it is more likely that it depicts a specific deity. At first glance I would have voted for Bima like Rick did.
Regards

Paul de Souza · 8th February 2018, 10:01 AM

I feel there is age in it but some people have said it is stained for age effect. There is a shine and wear to that suggest lots of handling and age. It may be stained but not a recent thing given the wear on it. I hope the following will help.

Jean · 8th February 2018, 12:56 PM

Thank you Paul. There are still not many clues about the identification of the figure but it has a Garuda Mungkur on the back of the head, it is made from elephant ivory (Retzius lines visible on some pics) and the patina looks natural as the exposed tips (toes, etc) are whiter and worn. A nice hilt anyway, the selut may be less old than the hilt itself.
Regards

Paul B. · 8th February 2018, 03:22 PM

Any idea about the semi-precious cabochon stones involved in the selut?

David · 8th February 2018, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B.

Any idea about the semi-precious cabochon stones involved in the selut?

Well Paul, when you ask about age that was a red flag for me. Are they black in color. They look like they might be diopside which is not a stone i can see i have seen used on Bali hilts that are truly old. As Jean suggested the selut could be a newer addition, but it does make me suspicious of the age of the entire piece ash the color of the ivory does look dyed to me. Also the other diamond-like stones seem an unusual cut for older Balinese work.

Jean · 8th February 2018, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B.

Any idea about the semi-precious cabochon stones involved in the selut?

The cabochon stones may be from black obsidian (volcano glass) which is used in Indonesia AFAIK but they are not suitable for a traditional Balinese selut indeed.
Regards

David · 8th February 2018, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean

The cabochon stones may be from black obsidian (volcano glass) which is used in Indonesia AFAIK but they are not suitable for a traditional Balinese selut indeed.
Regards

Yes Jean, could also be obsidian. While i have not seen similar stones used on older seluts i wonder why you suggest they are not "suitable".

Battara · 9th February 2018, 12:35 AM

If I remember right, it is the color of the stones that has talismanic and/or spiritual significance in Balinese pieces. Thus you see a lot of blue sapphires, red rubies, or black stones, or at least glass replacements.

kai · 10th February 2018, 01:33 AM

Hello Jean,

Quote:

The cabochon stones may be from black obsidian (volcano glass) which is used in Indonesia AFAIK but they are not suitable for a traditional Balinese selut indeed.

Don't these look like low-quality black sapphires? (Basically with irregular layers of needles inside rather than clear or star sapphires?)

Regards,
Kai

Paul B. · 10th February 2018, 12:44 PM

Obsidian seems not the case...shiny and pitchblack but not semi-translucent like the depicted uwer stones.
This is another probably similar cabochon stone and low quality sapphire is a good guess Kai. Optional: smokey quartz but tends to be more brownish.

8th February 2018, 10:01 AM	#2
Paul de Souza Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 66	I feel there is age in it but some people have said it is stained for age effect. There is a shine and wear to that suggest lots of handling and age. It may be stained but not a recent thing given the wear on it. I hope the following will help. Attached Images

10th February 2018, 12:44 PM	#10
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	Obsidian seems not the case...shiny and pitchblack but not semi-translucent like the depicted uwer stones. This is another probably similar cabochon stone and low quality sapphire is a good guess Kai. Optional: smokey quartz but tends to be more brownish. Attached Images

8th February 2018, 09:19 AM	#1
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Hello Paul, Could you please post a side view of your hilt in order to better assess its attribute and head-dress? Do I see a bintulu eye at the bottom of the tumpal motif? From the patina (is it natural or artificial?) this hilt seems to have some age so it is more likely that it depicts a specific deity. At first glance I would have voted for Bima like Rick did. Regards

8th February 2018, 12:56 PM	#3
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Thank you Paul. There are still not many clues about the identification of the figure but it has a Garuda Mungkur on the back of the head, it is made from elephant ivory (Retzius lines visible on some pics) and the patina looks natural as the exposed tips (toes, etc) are whiter and worn. A nice hilt anyway, the selut may be less old than the hilt itself. Regards

8th February 2018, 03:22 PM	#4
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	Any idea about the semi-precious cabochon stones involved in the selut?

9th February 2018, 12:35 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	If I remember right, it is the color of the stones that has talismanic and/or spiritual significance in Balinese pieces. Thus you see a lot of blue sapphires, red rubies, or black stones, or at least glass replacements.