Badik for comments
 

I recently got this Badik.

Is it from Java?

Van somebody make sense of the inscription and punch mark?

A senseless inscription .. and a real silver mark ? :o .

There seems to be logic in that statement, did the Dutch institute a system of silver proof marks in the region?

It is a very pretty piece Marius. Does the button on the end of the sheath show Bugis influence?

I'm an odd duck in that what would drive me crazy is trying to figure out what vegetation the artist is trying to show. Especially the flowers.

Good luck on deciphering the inscription.

"Taoen" is an old way to write "Tahun" in Dutch Indies, Tahun means year, so year 1846.

"Oemie" could be a name, it occurs in what today is Indonesia, but... it's a womans name.

"Brat" might be "Berat" (the "e" is almost inaudible, like in "Keris/Kris", so the old way is not to write it), weight or taxing; a digit after that word could make sense, but "Doe" escapes me, and I don't know of an old "Indonesian" or Dutch unit for which it could stand.

Yes, it could be from island of Java, possibly an european sword blade point.
Very nice silver work.

Thank you very much! :)

The blade appears to be laminated so I assume it is local production.

Nice Badek,
The angle of the hilt indicates Javanese style, but the knob on the end of the scabbard and style of decoration points me to Sumatra more then Java. Some of these are attributed to Bugis, Celebes, but those often have a different angle in the hilt.

The Dutch used a hallmark to indicate imported silver, a swan and a letter 'z'. I can't decipher your mark on the scabbard, but there is a possibility it is one of those.
However, Indonesian silver was often unmarked until 1930 were hallmarks became obligated.

Nice badek!, Oh, I already mentioned that;)

Peter

The scabbard style, with this kind of Buntut at the end (and of course Badik as a kind of weapon) originated in Celebes, and descend from Alamang scabbards (and Alamang belong to the oldest and most revered regalia in South Celebes). Of course this style of scabbard did spread also on Sumatra, but hilt and style of decoration on this example are typical for island of Java.

A different style of Buntut called Buntut Lipas is the one, which would be typical for Sumatra (and Malay states).

Very nice badik and I would agree with Gustav about the Javanese origin. :)

Regards,
Detlef

This is a message I received time ago about writings :