Indonesian/Indian Ankus or Spearhead?

[ArmsAndAntiques]

An additional image of an actual example from, I believe, a 2006 exhibition held at the Nieuwe Kerk and the National Museum of Indonesia of what is described as a "State Lance" Java, circa 1858.

[Richard G]

Forgive my ignorance, but is it correct to assume these spearheads are painted?
And do any survive? in Antwerp or elsewhere?
Best wishes
Richard

[asomotif]

Here is one from the old museum Nusantara, in Delft. (closed now)

[Athanase]

Thanks for this topic.
Here is a "tombak" of the 1990s that I bought a few years ago.
I thought it totally fanciful and intended only for tourists but thanks to this conversation I discovered that this is the reproduction of an old traditional pattern.

[ArmsAndAntiques]

A number of other examples found referenced online and which are attributed to the Leiden Ethnographic Museum or Museum Volkenkunde. I couldn't find these in their registry online but have no reason to doubt the institutional attribution.

It does appear the known figural examples are all gold gilded. Perhaps other knowledgeable members would know why the plates put the others in multiple colors or whether this was a fanciful interpretation of gold decoration

In addition, I attach another image of a ceremonial lance attributed to Paku Alam IV, 1874.

And finally, two images from Jasper and Pirngadie of these types of tombak.

[A. G. Maisey]

Where a tombak-like object is used as the finial for a banner shaft, or where the object has been specifically made to serve as a finial for a banner shaft, the correct name for that object is "Pataka".

So these things being discussed here are called "Pataka", not "Tombak".

I had forgotten this, but I needed to do a re-read of something and I came across the reference again. I have not yet checked for a root or cross reference.

[A. G. Maisey]

I have now had time to look at the word "pataka".

It is quite an interesting word.

It exists in Old Javanese, the form of Javanese that was in use prior to the establishment of the Second Kingdom of Mataram in the late 16th century. In Old Javanese the word "Petaka" can be understood in three ways, only two of which have a relationship to the name of a banner shaft finial. Dependent upon context, the word "Pataka" can mean:-
the top part of a house roof; a flag, a banner, a standard, a pennant, a sign, a symbol, an emblem, a badge, a war decoration, an insignia, a token, a mark, a signal, a decorative item, a coat-of-arms.

The unrelated meaning of the word relates to sin and evil doing. In BI there is a fairly common word that comes from the same root:- "malapetaka" = a disaster or great misfortune.

Pataka comes from the Sanscrit, where it has +20 ways of being understood, most of which relate to sin and evil doing, I can only find one word in Sanscrit that has a vague relationship to flags & etc:- "utpataka", which probably can be understood as "flying upwards".

It is really quite wonderful that this word has come from Sanscrit>Kawi>Old Javanese into Modern Javanese>Bahasa Indonesia, where in Modern Javanese and BI it is understood as flag, banner, standard, and apparently by those with an interest in tosan aji, as a banner shaft finial.

It is interesting to note that during the Majapahit era, banners were counted as weapons of war (Quaritch-Wales).

Some readers of this may be aware that for many years one of my pet hatreds has been the "Name Game". I have found that in order to avoid the heated idiocy that sometimes finds itself attached to debate or even discussion about "correct names", it is a very worthwhile exercise to explore the etymology of a word.

[La Pagaru]

Originally Posted by ArmsAndAntiques

A number of other examples found referenced online and which are attributed to the Leiden Ethnographic Museum or Museum Volkenkunde. I couldn't find these in their registry online but have no reason to doubt the institutional attribution.

It does appear the known figural examples are all gold gilded. Perhaps other knowledgeable members would know why the plates put the others in multiple colors or whether this was a fanciful interpretation of gold decoration

In addition, I attach another image of a ceremonial lance attributed to Paku Alam IV, 1874.

And finally, two images from Jasper and Pirngadie of these types of tombak.

I try to give a sample of the bilge dragon spear we used to call a leaf dragon .. bugis also know dragon in literature heirloom. in our ancient record which is called the lontara book. dragon is called as la tamposisi. besides being speared, we also found it in kris and badik blades.

[La Pagaru]

Originally Posted by La Pagaru

I try to give a sample of the bilge dragon spear we used to call a leaf dragon .. bugis also know dragon in literature heirloom. in our ancient record which is called the lontara book. dragon is called as la tamposisi. besides being speared, we also found it in kris and badik blades.

This sampling
We called Naga daun