Another Klewang Palembang for our Archives

CharlesS · 24th January 2014, 05:42 PM

This a very nice, almost certainly ceremonial, klewang Palembang(Parang Betino???) from Sumatra.

The hilt is ivory with a worked gold ferrule. The blade is beautifully forged, quite heavy, showing a laminated pattern, a reinforced (Moro shandigan style) edge, and finely chiseled bolster.

The scabbard is new.

Dimensions: 25in. overall, with a 18.5in. blade, and 2.5in. at its widest point.

VVV · 25th January 2014, 07:47 AM

Nice shopping!

Those klewang are quite rare and to find one with ivory is extremely rare.

Michael

Andrew · 25th January 2014, 03:40 PM

Really nice, Charles. Thank you for sharing.

Battara · 25th January 2014, 05:23 PM

Uncle Charles, when you through this away, please call me - remember I'm a trash collector...

DaveS · 26th January 2014, 10:11 PM

Charles: Fantastic klewang with the best ivory handle of this type that I have seen. Also a really nice laminated blade. The whole piece just can't get any better than that.........Dave.

kai · 27th January 2014, 12:12 AM

Hello Charles,

A really neat Parang Betino! AvZ shows one example from Willem van der Post's collection in the klewang overview (Fig. 263).

A quite distinctive blade type that resembles the amanremu which may be its northern cousin; the usually present bolster seems pretty unique though.

I agree this is a status piece - still fully functional though. The business examples I've seen come with horn hilts of the same style.

The top end examples like in this thread appear to be status pieces for ceremonial use only.

I do wonder why there are apparently not that many surviving examples and, especially, why a quite considerable proportion seem to be status pieces.

Regards,
Kai

CharlesS · 27th January 2014, 01:05 AM

Thanks for the comments guys.

Michael...you have a done a great deal on research on correct nomenclature for Indonesian swords. Do you agree with the term "parang betino" here?

VVV · 27th January 2014, 07:56 AM

The only source for the term parang betino I know of is the book Royal Gifts from Indonesia, p. 175.
However, there it is also claimed that it comes from West Java, which is probably wrong.
Of course, the sword in the book could have been collected in West Java but then the local Sundandese term for a sword from Palembang would not be the best to use in general.
Based on this I prefer not to use the term parang betino myself.

Michael

CharlesS · 27th January 2014, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

I agree this is a status piece - still fully functional though. The business examples I've seen come with horn hilts of the same style.

Kai,

This may look fully functional, but practically it is not. The heavy blade combined with the narrow hilt of ivory with a weak gold bolster could not take many serious blows.

CharlesS · 27th January 2014, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

The only source for the term parang betino I know of is the book Royal Gifts from Indonesia, p. 175.
However, there it is also claimed that it comes from West Java, which is probably wrong.
Of course, the sword in the book could have been collected in West Java but then the local Sundandese term for a sword from Palembang would not be the best to use in general.
Based on this I prefer not to use the term parang betino myself.

Michael

Thanks Michael.

I had wondered about this since I have never seen that term used outside this forum. I do not have that book.

asomotif · 27th January 2014, 09:58 PM

Hello Charles,

An extremely nice presentation piece.
Checking the forum, I could only find 2 examples. both high end with ivory hilts.

Are there other examples in forumite collections ?

I found this example in the collection of the RMV Leiden.
Nr. 360-5322 / length 34 cms, materials, iron, wood, brass.
Poor picture unfortunately.

Best regards,
Willem

Battara · 28th January 2014, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Kai,

This may look fully functional, but practically it is not. The heavy blade combined with the narrow hilt of ivory with a weak gold bolster could not take many serious blows.

Well although not meant to be a battlefield piece, this is a little stronger than you think. I can tell that it is a layer of gold over a thicker layer of silver, which is wrapped around either steel or ivory.

T. Koch · 28th January 2014, 09:32 PM

Damn Charles, it's like you shop on a different PLANET from me!

Congrats and enjoy!

Cheers, Thor

24th January 2014, 05:42 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Another Klewang Palembang for our Archives This a very nice, almost certainly ceremonial, klewang Palembang(Parang Betino???) from Sumatra. The hilt is ivory with a worked gold ferrule. The blade is beautifully forged, quite heavy, showing a laminated pattern, a reinforced (Moro shandigan style) edge, and finely chiseled bolster. The scabbard is new. Dimensions: 25in. overall, with a 18.5in. blade, and 2.5in. at its widest point. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 24th January 2014 at 06:25 PM.

26th January 2014, 10:11 PM	#5
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Another klewang palembang for our archives Charles: Fantastic klewang with the best ivory handle of this type that I have seen. Also a really nice laminated blade. The whole piece just can't get any better than that.........Dave.

27th January 2014, 09:58 PM	#11
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	Hello Charles, An extremely nice presentation piece. Checking the forum, I could only find 2 examples. both high end with ivory hilts. Are there other examples in forumite collections ? I found this example in the collection of the RMV Leiden. Nr. 360-5322 / length 34 cms, materials, iron, wood, brass. Poor picture unfortunately. Best regards, Willem Attached Images

25th January 2014, 07:47 AM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice shopping! Those klewang are quite rare and to find one with ivory is extremely rare. Michael

25th January 2014, 03:40 PM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Really nice, Charles. Thank you for sharing.

25th January 2014, 05:23 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Uncle Charles, when you through this away, please call me - remember I'm a trash collector...

27th January 2014, 12:12 AM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,215	Hello Charles, A really neat Parang Betino! AvZ shows one example from Willem van der Post's collection in the klewang overview (Fig. 263). A quite distinctive blade type that resembles the amanremu which may be its northern cousin; the usually present bolster seems pretty unique though. I agree this is a status piece - still fully functional though. The business examples I've seen come with horn hilts of the same style. The top end examples like in this thread appear to be status pieces for ceremonial use only. I do wonder why there are apparently not that many surviving examples and, especially, why a quite considerable proportion seem to be status pieces. Regards, Kai

27th January 2014, 01:05 AM	#7
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Thanks for the comments guys. Michael...you have a done a great deal on research on correct nomenclature for Indonesian swords. Do you agree with the term "parang betino" here?

27th January 2014, 07:56 AM	#8
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	The only source for the term parang betino I know of is the book Royal Gifts from Indonesia, p. 175. However, there it is also claimed that it comes from West Java, which is probably wrong. Of course, the sword in the book could have been collected in West Java but then the local Sundandese term for a sword from Palembang would not be the best to use in general. Based on this I prefer not to use the term parang betino myself. Michael

28th January 2014, 09:32 PM	#13
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Damn Charles, it's like you shop on a different PLANET from me! Congrats and enjoy! Cheers, Thor