Piso Sanalenggam with unusual hilt

VVV · 29th August 2008, 09:55 AM

Thanks Marco and Bill.

I also have the new Batak book by Sibeth but I will be away from home until Monday to check it. (It's quite heavy so it could be worthwile to pick it up in a museum shop instead of having it shipped.)
On the colours it's of course always a bit dangerous to interpret too much in the meaning of similar symbols between totally different cultures.
Sometime it works and sometimes the same symbol has another meaning...
The chain motif I find Batak and as Ben mentioned it doesn't look like the Islamic motifs of the neighbouring people.

Michael

CharlesS · 29th August 2008, 04:10 PM

Likely the nicest one of these I have seen. With so much attention to detail and decor, I have to assume it is a status piece.

VVV · 31st August 2008, 09:24 PM

Thanks,

Back home again and I checked the new Batak Sculpture book by Sibeth and Carpenter.
7 different Piso S pictured in it where one had a resembling hilt as mine.
The one in the book was also red and black.
According to the book this sword was "connected with magical practises" among the Pakpak priests.

Michael

29th August 2008, 09:55 AM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Marco and Bill. I also have the new Batak book by Sibeth but I will be away from home until Monday to check it. (It's quite heavy so it could be worthwile to pick it up in a museum shop instead of having it shipped.) On the colours it's of course always a bit dangerous to interpret too much in the meaning of similar symbols between totally different cultures. Sometime it works and sometimes the same symbol has another meaning... The chain motif I find Batak and as Ben mentioned it doesn't look like the Islamic motifs of the neighbouring people. Michael

29th August 2008, 04:10 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Likely the nicest one of these I have seen. With so much attention to detail and decor, I have to assume it is a status piece.

31st August 2008, 09:24 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks, Back home again and I checked the new Batak Sculpture book by Sibeth and Carpenter. 7 different Piso S pictured in it where one had a resembling hilt as mine. The one in the book was also red and black. According to the book this sword was "connected with magical practises" among the Pakpak priests. Michael