A Familiar Blade in a Suprising Place!

CharlesS · 20th September 2012, 04:39 PM

As many of you know I am intriqued by cross cultural pieces, most especially from the Islamic world...and here is yet another one.

This Indonesian(likely Sumatran) parang carries a blade that would be much more at home on a Sudanese kaskara or Tuareg takouba. The parang is 35in. overall, with the blade being 29in. The blade has been cut down to local tastes and has become very thin and flexible. No doubt it was just that...thin and flexible...originally, but acid washings and age have contributed to its feeble condition even more. This blade was certainly never made for acid washings! Note the blade has become virtually black in what may be a combination of acid washing and patina, or acid washing alone. The impact on the thinner tip is similiar to what one might expect on an older keris.

Note the shallow fullering and half moons we have come to expect on takoubas and kaskaras...in this case heavily worn as a result of the washings and age.

Question is...was this originally a European trade blade or did in come to the archipelago via 'al-Islam' and north African trade. I doubt we can positively ever know.

The last pic here compares it to a much healthier blade which is almost certainly a European blade that found its way to becoming and Indonesian parang.

20th September 2012, 04:39 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	A Familiar Blade in a Surprising Place! As many of you know I am intriqued by cross cultural pieces, most especially from the Islamic world...and here is yet another one. This Indonesian(likely Sumatran) parang carries a blade that would be much more at home on a Sudanese kaskara or Tuareg takouba. The parang is 35in. overall, with the blade being 29in. The blade has been cut down to local tastes and has become very thin and flexible. No doubt it was just that...thin and flexible...originally, but acid washings and age have contributed to its feeble condition even more. This blade was certainly never made for acid washings! Note the blade has become virtually black in what may be a combination of acid washing and patina, or acid washing alone. The impact on the thinner tip is similiar to what one might expect on an older keris. Note the shallow fullering and half moons we have come to expect on takoubas and kaskaras...in this case heavily worn as a result of the washings and age. Question is...was this originally a European trade blade or did in come to the archipelago via 'al-Islam' and north African trade. I doubt we can positively ever know. The last pic here compares it to a much healthier blade which is almost certainly a European blade that found its way to becoming and Indonesian parang. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 20th September 2012 at 06:58 PM.