Sikin Panjang
 

Hi All! Here is one of my last purchases of the 2006 :) : a nice Sikin. I like especially the ink decorations on the scabbard and how confortable is in the hands the boy ;) !

The sword is beauitful, especially the scabbard decorations! I am curious about the last of your quote?? :confused: :confused:

Flavio

Magnifico, bravo! That is one sweet sword :)

Lew

Hi Bill and Lew, thank you! Bill, i was talking about the balance of the sikin :p

That is a very nice panjang and I believe there is an azimat on the back of the scabbard. Would it be too much of a bother to get a better picture of that ?

Oh and some names of the parts of these swords

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...eh/parts-b.jpg

Thank you Michael :) Here are some pictures of the back, but i don't think that is a "true" azimat, since seems to me that in each space there is only a decorative sign, but maybe i'm wrong :p .

flavio, a very nice new year gift you have :)
I wish I have one like yours :p
would you kind enough to sent your sikin to me, flavio ? :D


Thanks John for your sharing Sikin parts names. Some part names equal spell and mean with bahasa such as "mata" and "hulu". and "wilah" almost sound like "bilah" which mean edge blade. other part is surely from acehnese languange.

I got new knowledge about sikin,john.

I think you are right looking at the closer pictures it looks like it was done to resemble an azimat. There may however be some numerlogical significance to the rows and spacing of it. Someone who knows more about this than I do will have to answer that. Still a very nice sword and sheath and one I would be proud to have.

Utami
Please let me know if the terms I have are not correct or if they are a dialect other than Aceh. You have been a great help on this in the past. I don't speak the language and many who wrote the references did not either. So some of the sources out there mix terms from different dialects. I am trying to use the Aceh terms when I can find them as the sword is mainly atributed to the Aceh.

Thanks

Sikin Panjang / carvings
 

Can anyone tell me what the carving on my scabbard means ?
Best regards,
Willem

Willem
I am at work a 48 now but when I get home I will check and see if I have anything on these motifs in the books by either Smith or Leigh

Thanks ! :)

Willem
Here is what I can find I am afraid it is not specific to your design

She goes on to note that geographic motifs can be traced back to the Dongson period of design dated about 300 BC. Floral designs which I feel the scabbard above and the designs on the one you posted are often interpreted as depicting images from the garden of paradise. Barbara Leigh uses this description which I think fits the scabbard designes

There are specific plants that have meaning ( the tree of life, lotus bud, and bamboo).

The pattern in the picture you post ( resembling an X ) may be bungong keupala( "Aceh - Art and Culture" by Holly s. Smith

I know this is not much, I am looking for Van der Hoop's work ( Indonesian Ornamental Design 1949). that may have more for us. If I find more I will post it

The hilt of my short Sumatra klewang has a carving like Willem scabbard.
Regards
Paolo

I think that hilt is style is called hulu babah buya ( hulu serampang in Gayo). Again it is a stylised representation of an open animal mouth maybe the crocodile. I agree that the motif on it is very similar to the design I have seen called bungong keupala

Thank You for the inputs.
Regards
Paolo