INTERESTING INDONESIAN SCABBARD
 

THIS CLOSED ON EBAY THE OTHER DAY AND I THOUGHT IT UNUSUAL ENOUGH TO BE WORTH A POST TO SEE WHERE ITS FROM AND WHAT THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF THE DESIGNS ARE. IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE OF THE SHIELDS FOUND IN THE MOLUCCAS. PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN IDENTIFY IT FOR US OR GIVE US A BEST GUESS.

It's a scabbard for a Batak Tumbok Lada (found among Karo and Gayo).

Michael

I LIKE IT EVEN BETTER NOW THAT I SEE THE DAGGER THAT GOES WITH IT. :) TOO BAD THE DAGGER IS MISSING FROM THE EBAY EXAMPLE.
ARE THE METAL DISKS COINS AND ARE THE MARKINGS TAILSMANS OR JUST TRIBAL DESIGNS. THE SHELL INLAY IS WHAT REMINDED ME OF THE SHIELDS. IS THE IVORY HANDLE TRADITIONALLY WHALE TOOTH? ITS STRANGE THAT I HAVE NOT NOTICED THESE ATTRACTIVE DAGGERS BEFORE I HAVE SEEN THE FORM BUT DON'T REMEMBER THE DECORATIONS PERHAPS I HAVE NOT SEEN THE SCABBARDS ARE THEY RARE OR HAVE THEY JUST BEEN OVERLOOKED? THANKS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND NICE PICTURE. :D

you lucky lucky lucky luck. :)

Nice and rare scabbard. congrats !

tumbok lada
 

yes definately tumbok lada...
Danny

The metal disks aren't coins and I don't know the meaning of the markings or if the handle is always made of the same kind of ivory.
I see them now and then in large collections so I assume that they are just "semi-rare".

Michael