Ethnographic Arms & Armour

For sale a very fine Sikin Panjang from Aceh, North Sumatra, second half of 19.cent.

Overall length: 69,5 cm
Blade length: 53 cm
Blade width at the forte: 3,7 cm
at the tip: 4 cm

A well forged, tempered blade with exceptionally fine laminations.
Handle is made of buffalo horn with very light colour, most likely albino.
At the base three tiered golden crown, inlaid with enamel, two spikes are damaged, minor bumps on three others (see pictures).

Original wooden scabbard, on front side densely carved with floral ornaments, on back side a comparatively long inscription:

"Ini lah peninggalan (?) Teuku Kalit Mat Said dan yang empunya sikin panjang ini ....dan pada..."

"This is heirloom? of Teuku Kalit Mat Said and whom this sikin panjang belongs to ....and on ..."

About the title Teuku Kali:

"For the administration of justice the Uleebalang avails himself of the sevices of Kali (kadhi - a judge in Islamic law), whom he himself nominates." (Snouck Hurgronje, "The Achechnese")

Like there was Panglima of a Sagi (confederation of districts), a nominal chief of Uleebalangs of these districts, there was also a Kali, which was then the chief Kali of a Sagi. His title was Kali Rabon Jale and he was appointed directly by Sultan.

Above the Kali of Uleebalalang and Kali of Panglima Sagi there was a supreme hereditary judge with a title of Kali Malikon Ade. He initially possibly could apply Hukom as well as Adat law and ideally would be a president of a royal court of justice.

It seems this system certainly wasn't working anymore in 19th cent. (or even earlier) because of great independency of (three) Sagi's and Uleebalangs.

So Kali Malikon Ade was later in fact just a title, which indicated the origin of the position, "Judge of the righteous King"; a master of court ceremonies, to whom a fixed portion of harbour dues was assigned. He became what was called Uleebalang Poteu (Uleebalang of our Lord), equal in rank to the almost independent provincial chiefs, but without territory. The official title of Teuku which he bore points to the complete secularisation of his office.

Finally one of the holders of the title used a weakness of a Panglima Meuseugit Raya (the head of around 24 Kampongs on either side of Aceh river in neighbourhood of the court and principal mosque) and succeeded in gaining control of over half of latter's jurisdiction. Sicnce then Teuku Kali was a chief (Uleebalang) of small (12 Kampongs) but important territory and at the same time, as court dignitary, not without influence in the choice of a successor to the throne.

Overall a very fine Sikin Panjang belonging to a person with high standing in hierarchy of Sultanate of Aceh.

Asking EUR 1500 + shipment.
Please contact me via PM or gustavfriedrich@hotmail.com