Piso Podang Batak or Borneo?

erikscollectables · 24th April 2011, 08:10 AM

I recently added a strange piso podang to my collection. It is a strange variation in several respects. According to the source it came from an old Batak collection and all other items were indeed old Batak.

Would like to hear your opions.

Handle is of a silver alloy - and less strong than the regular handles looking at the damages. As allways 2 pieces put together. Cup on the top is open but quite small (smaller than what I am used to on Sumatra pieces).

Sheath is two pieces of wood put together but finished with silver alloy bands of a style that I do not recognize. It almost made me think of Madura. The mouth piece is missing.

The blade itself says nothing about origin as it is an old European (possibly Portugese) one.

What do you think?

Regards, Erik

Maurice · 24th April 2011, 08:51 PM

Hi Erik,

As far as I know the Borneo types used by the seadayak/Iban, or the podangs used by the Dusun in English North Borneo, all have brass handles.

If somebody has a Borneo type of podang with wilver pommel, I would love to see an image of it.

Best regards,
Maurice

Maurice · 24th April 2011, 08:59 PM

Oh and because it is was in the same collection with Batak pieces, and I have never seen a silver pommeled one from Borneo, I strongly incline to Batak instead of Iban/Dusun....

rasdan · 24th April 2011, 09:49 PM

Hello,

Some of these are actually used by Malay rulers. I had attached 2 photos of the weapon in question used to escort 2 Malay Sultan. The first is Sultan Ahmad, Sultan of Pahang, the second one is Sultan Muhammad, Sultan of Negeri Sembilan. Both pictures are taken in the end of 1800's.

I have in my possession a sword like that that is from the Malay Peninsula. It looked the same like their Sumatran counterparts, but there's a bit of intricacy of design of the hilt. The hilt is made with some white metal; probably silver aloy (since it has blackish oxidation), plated with gold. I have seen another one that is in a possesion of somebody in my hometown, a slightly larger/longer sword just like mine, that is said to be a present from Sultan Abu Bakar of Johore.

p/s: Mykeris, if you are reading this, please don't laugh.

erikscollectables · 24th April 2011, 09:58 PM

Very interesting, I did not know about this - these seem to be straight ones as well! Thanks for the info! Regards, Erik

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasdan

Hello,

Some of these are actually used by Malay rulers. I had attached 2 photos of the weapon in question used to escort 2 Malay Sultan. The first is Sultan Ahmad, Sultan of Pahang, the second one is Sultan Muhammad, Sultan of Negeri Sembilan. Both pictures are taken in the end of 1800's.

I have in my possession a sword like that that is from the Malay Peninsula. It looked the same like their Sumatran counterparts, but there's a bit of intricacy of design of the hilt. The hilt is made with some white metal; probably silver aloy (since it has blackish oxidation), plated with gold. I have seen another one that is in a possesion of somebody in my hometown, a slightly larger/longer sword just like mine, that is said to be a present from Sultan Abu Bakar of Johore.

p/s: Mykeris, if you are reading this, please don't laugh.

rasdan · 24th April 2011, 10:04 PM

You're welcome Erik. Mine and the other one that I had seen are straight, just like yours. But it seems form the pic, there's curved ones as well..

Norman McCormick · 5th May 2011, 12:13 AM

Hi Michael,
Many thanks for taking the time to post these stats. My Indian blade is as follows, total length 88.5cm, blade 77cm, width at base 4cm, thickness at centre 0.2cm, thickness at base 0.4cm. What I was wondering is if some of the blades used on Podangs had blades that originated in India as some of the forms are very similar to the blade I have. This 'Sukhela' blade type, indeed if it can be called that, appears to be quite flexible as can be seen on two blades in my thread about my sword. The non European blade that you have has a different profile from my Indian blade so this would probably not be a relevent comparison. If other members have locally made or non European imported blades on their Podangs I would be interested in any comparisons between my Indian blade and theirs. Thanks again Michael for your interest and patience.
My Regards,
Norman.

ariel · 5th May 2011, 12:52 AM

Just to remind:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=piso

VVV · 6th May 2011, 12:07 AM

None of the Malay Chenangkas I have handled had flexible blades.
But several of the Batak Piso Podang had flexible blades like you describe.
Ariel, I am sorry that I still can't say anything about your related sword.

Michael

24th April 2011, 08:10 AM	#1
erikscollectables Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 318	Piso Podang Batak or Borneo? I recently added a strange piso podang to my collection. It is a strange variation in several respects. According to the source it came from an old Batak collection and all other items were indeed old Batak. Would like to hear your opions. Handle is of a silver alloy - and less strong than the regular handles looking at the damages. As allways 2 pieces put together. Cup on the top is open but quite small (smaller than what I am used to on Sumatra pieces). Sheath is two pieces of wood put together but finished with silver alloy bands of a style that I do not recognize. It almost made me think of Madura. The mouth piece is missing. The blade itself says nothing about origin as it is an old European (possibly Portugese) one. What do you think? Regards, Erik Attached Images Last edited by erikscollectables; 24th April 2011 at 08:29 AM.

24th April 2011, 09:49 PM	#4
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 368	Hello, Some of these are actually used by Malay rulers. I had attached 2 photos of the weapon in question used to escort 2 Malay Sultan. The first is Sultan Ahmad, Sultan of Pahang, the second one is Sultan Muhammad, Sultan of Negeri Sembilan. Both pictures are taken in the end of 1800's. I have in my possession a sword like that that is from the Malay Peninsula. It looked the same like their Sumatran counterparts, but there's a bit of intricacy of design of the hilt. The hilt is made with some white metal; probably silver aloy (since it has blackish oxidation), plated with gold. I have seen another one that is in a possesion of somebody in my hometown, a slightly larger/longer sword just like mine, that is said to be a present from Sultan Abu Bakar of Johore. p/s: Mykeris, if you are reading this, please don't laugh. Attached Images

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24th April 2011, 08:51 PM	#2
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	Hi Erik, As far as I know the Borneo types used by the seadayak/Iban, or the podangs used by the Dusun in English North Borneo, all have brass handles. If somebody has a Borneo type of podang with wilver pommel, I would love to see an image of it. Best regards, Maurice

24th April 2011, 08:59 PM	#3
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	Oh and because it is was in the same collection with Batak pieces, and I have never seen a silver pommeled one from Borneo, I strongly incline to Batak instead of Iban/Dusun....

24th April 2011, 10:04 PM	#6
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 368	You're welcome Erik. Mine and the other one that I had seen are straight, just like yours. But it seems form the pic, there's curved ones as well..

5th May 2011, 12:13 AM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Hi Michael, Many thanks for taking the time to post these stats. My Indian blade is as follows, total length 88.5cm, blade 77cm, width at base 4cm, thickness at centre 0.2cm, thickness at base 0.4cm. What I was wondering is if some of the blades used on Podangs had blades that originated in India as some of the forms are very similar to the blade I have. This 'Sukhela' blade type, indeed if it can be called that, appears to be quite flexible as can be seen on two blades in my thread about my sword. The non European blade that you have has a different profile from my Indian blade so this would probably not be a relevent comparison. If other members have locally made or non European imported blades on their Podangs I would be interested in any comparisons between my Indian blade and theirs. Thanks again Michael for your interest and patience. My Regards, Norman.

5th May 2011, 12:52 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Just to remind: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=piso

6th May 2011, 12:07 AM	#9
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	None of the Malay Chenangkas I have handled had flexible blades. But several of the Batak Piso Podang had flexible blades like you describe. Ariel, I am sorry that I still can't say anything about your related sword. Michael