I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THESE AND SAW A VERY GOOD TRAVELING EXHIBIT FROM NIAS AT THE ART MUSEUM IN HOUSTON IN THE 1980'S. THEY ALSO HAVE A NICE EXAMPLE IN THEIR COLLECTION. HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES ONE OF NIAS VILLAGE GAURDS IN FULL REGALIA NOTE THE FLARED METAL ARMOR AND TUSKS ON THEIR HEAD GEAR. ONE SWORD HAS THE AMULET BALL EXPOSED WITH NO AMULET INSIDE OR TEETH ATTACHED, OTHERS HAVE AMULET BALLS WITH PIG TUSKS, CROCODILE TEETH, TIGER OR BIG CAT TEETH AND ONE HAS AN AMULET BOTTLE FIXED BETWEEN TWO TIGER TEETH. ONE FETISH BALL HAS CROCODILE TEETH, TIGER TEETH AND CLAWS. THERE ARE OTHER POSTS ON NIAS SO YOU MIGHT TAKE A LOOK
MY EXAMPLE OF A BALATO IS LIKE YOURS CARVED WOOD TEETH ON THE FETISH BALL BUT THE SWORD WOULD SERVE VERY WELL AS A WEAPON. THE MAGIC PROBABLY DOSEN'T WORK VERY WELL WITH AN EMPTY FETISH BALL WITH WOODEN TEETH