Indonesian ? spear for I.D. and comment

colin henshaw · 2nd June 2011, 06:00 PM

Hi

I've had this long spear for a while, and wonder if someone is able to identify it for me. I have thought of it as probably Indonesian, Batak ?

The shaft is very straight and regular - would it have been made on some sort of lathe, or all carved by hand ?

Thanks.

Gavin Nugent · 3rd June 2011, 12:48 AM

A very fine looking piece.

The shaft is hand made no doubt, a lathe of this size would be troubsome to say the least, flex and flop would be out of control even with numberous support rollers along the bed of the lathe and I am unsure if the technology was available for this type of construction in the day.

I look forward to hearing more on the origins as I am afraid I can't be too exact....if you do ever grow tired of it, please do let me know, it would look great amonst my other lances

Nathaniel · 3rd June 2011, 02:52 AM

Beautiful spear there Colin! Thanks for share! Looking forward to hearing what others have to say

Henk · 3rd June 2011, 09:06 AM

Very nice. Congrats. I would say Sumatra, Aceh.

asomotif · 3rd June 2011, 07:12 PM

Could be Sumatra, not necessarily Atjeh imho.

Maurice · 3rd June 2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Could be Sumatra, not necessarily Atjeh imho.

Agree that it could be Sumatra but I don't think this is Atjeh!

Very nice spear though!

fernando · 3rd June 2011, 07:55 PM

A very fine piece indeed, Colin !
I would even call it an elegant weapon

.

colin henshaw · 3rd June 2011, 09:26 PM

Many thanks for the kind and informative comments and responses about this spear.

Regards,
Colin

Maurice · 4th June 2011, 12:13 AM

Colin,

The carvings in the wooden shaft: Are they all circular rings?
Or are there also some in other form? (can you post an image of the other shapes if there are?)

Thanks,
Maurice

colin henshaw · 5th June 2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Colin,

The carvings in the wooden shaft: Are they all circular rings?
Or are there also some in other form? (can you post an image of the other shapes if there are?)

Thanks,
Maurice

Hi Maurice

The carvings on the shaft are just circular rings, here is a close-up image.

Regards.

fernando · 5th June 2011, 01:22 PM

Hand made rings ... right?

colin henshaw · 5th June 2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Hand made rings ... right?

I have examined the rings carefully, and although they are quite regular, I think they have been cut by hand, as opposed to by any type of lathe.

colin henshaw · 4th November 2012, 04:16 PM

A fine spear, similar sleeve to mine but different type of blade. Is the sleeve of brass not silver ?

Regards.

2nd June 2011, 06:00 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Indonesian ? spear for I.D. and comment Hi I've had this long spear for a while, and wonder if someone is able to identify it for me. I have thought of it as probably Indonesian, Batak ? The shaft is very straight and regular - would it have been made on some sort of lathe, or all carved by hand ? Thanks. Attached Images

3rd June 2011, 12:48 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	very fine A very fine looking piece. The shaft is hand made no doubt, a lathe of this size would be troubsome to say the least, flex and flop would be out of control even with numberous support rollers along the bed of the lathe and I am unsure if the technology was available for this type of construction in the day. I look forward to hearing more on the origins as I am afraid I can't be too exact....if you do ever grow tired of it, please do let me know, it would look great amonst my other lances

4th June 2011, 12:13 AM	#9
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,324	Colin, The carvings in the wooden shaft: Are they all circular rings? Or are there also some in other form? (can you post an image of the other shapes if there are?) Thanks, Maurice Last edited by Maurice; 4th June 2011 at 06:37 AM.

3rd June 2011, 02:52 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Beautiful spear there Colin! Thanks for share! Looking forward to hearing what others have to say

3rd June 2011, 09:06 AM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Very nice. Congrats. I would say Sumatra, Aceh.

3rd June 2011, 07:12 PM	#5
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	Could be Sumatra, not necessarily Atjeh imho.

3rd June 2011, 07:55 PM	#7
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	A very fine piece indeed, Colin ! I would even call it an elegant weapon .

3rd June 2011, 09:26 PM	#8
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Many thanks for the kind and informative comments and responses about this spear. Regards, Colin

5th June 2011, 01:22 PM	#11
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Hand made rings ... right?

4th November 2012, 04:16 PM	#13
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	A fine spear, similar sleeve to mine but different type of blade. Is the sleeve of brass not silver ? Regards.