What's going on here (Batak)?

JeffS · 3rd September 2023, 05:24 AM

I've started cleaning this piece which was part of an auction set. I have a long way to go but want to understand better what I am looking at before proceeding further. The small fullered blade (42cm) was set in the Batak handle with natural resin with the top part of the integral bolster emerging. After removing the the silver ferule for cleaning I noticed the tips of a Aceh crown emerging below the bolster so I cleaned away the crumbling resin to expose the part that emerges from the handle. This looks like a very small Luju Alang that was reset into a Batak figurine handle and dressed with Batak scabbard. The scabbard has a heavy silver throat and sleeve. Looks to be low-grade gold as a collar and suasa decorations on the silver foot. The silver bands are very variable in size. My first thought was that this must have been an old rehandle job to better sell for tourists but the scabbard looks like it was made for Batak use and the gold and silver content seems unnecessary for a tourist sale. The bolster and crown are also partly yellow metal and the base of the blade appears to have suasa streaks on it. Hope I can get help on the following questions:
1. Is this a Aceh Luju Alang?
2. Could this rehandle be for Batak use (instead of tourist) and the figural hilt correct for this purpose?
3. What is going on with the yellow metal at the bolster and crown and suasa (or copper) streaks on base of blade?

3rd September 2023, 05:24 AM	#1
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 308	What's going on here (Batak)? I've started cleaning this piece which was part of an auction set. I have a long way to go but want to understand better what I am looking at before proceeding further. The small fullered blade (42cm) was set in the Batak handle with natural resin with the top part of the integral bolster emerging. After removing the the silver ferule for cleaning I noticed the tips of a Aceh crown emerging below the bolster so I cleaned away the crumbling resin to expose the part that emerges from the handle. This looks like a very small Luju Alang that was reset into a Batak figurine handle and dressed with Batak scabbard. The scabbard has a heavy silver throat and sleeve. Looks to be low-grade gold as a collar and suasa decorations on the silver foot. The silver bands are very variable in size. My first thought was that this must have been an old rehandle job to better sell for tourists but the scabbard looks like it was made for Batak use and the gold and silver content seems unnecessary for a tourist sale. The bolster and crown are also partly yellow metal and the base of the blade appears to have suasa streaks on it. Hope I can get help on the following questions: 1. Is this a Aceh Luju Alang? 2. Could this rehandle be for Batak use (instead of tourist) and the figural hilt correct for this purpose? 3. What is going on with the yellow metal at the bolster and crown and suasa (or copper) streaks on base of blade? Attached Images Last edited by JeffS; 3rd September 2023 at 02:06 PM.