I'd Like to Learn More About this Interesting Badek/Badik

CharlesS · 11th August 2015, 08:37 PM

This badek was an Ebay purchase from a large collection of SE Asian edged weapons. You can see the immediate attraction...the unusual blade!

The hilt is carved horn and quite plain, as is the hardwood scabbard.

The the blade, though, is heavy, thick pamor steel, but smooth like a Balinese keris, and is chiseled with a panel of interlocking swastikas covered in silver on both sides. There is a floral pattern at the forte like you might expect to see on a kard, karud, or pesh kabz dagger, and the spine is inlaid with a silver floral motif. You can see the the top of the fuller(side of the spine on the side) was once inlaid in silver as well, with most of it now lost.

You can see other losses to the silver work as well.

The patina to the hilt and scabbard, paired with the loss of some of the original silver seem to indicate some good age on this piece; I would suggest at least 100 years or more.

An awful lot of work went into chiseling the side panels of this dagger and I am wondering if anyone is familiar with the swastika reference in Indonesian religion. I have to think it is linked to Hinduism, where it is associated with good fortune and the universal nature(four faces of Brahman).

I am anxious for any input that may apply these motifs more directly to Indonesia.

Comments welcomed.

Dimensions:

Overall length: 17.25in.
Blade length: 12.33in.
Widest point of the blade: 1.75in.

russel · 11th August 2015, 10:02 PM

Similar swastika-like designs are found on some Tiuk Pengentas. Perhaps your knife is a variation of these ceremonial knives?

CharlesS · 11th August 2015, 11:44 PM

Thanks Russel. I agree that this is certainly a ceremonial piece even if all the fittings seem very "dressed down". The weight and balance of the blade are not really like other badeks and it's poorly balanced. The blade almost seems too heavy for the hilt. Also, it is not particularly sharp.

Sajen · 12th August 2015, 02:04 AM

Hello Charles,

one of the best badik I've seen. I have followed the auction and when I remember correct I bid also and still keep the auction pictures.
While the Bugis are mostly Muslims, and I think that it is a Bugis badik, are the Balinese until today Hindu, they coming at the end of Mataram time from Central Java to Bali. The Mataram Kingdom, 8th -10th century was temporary a Hindu Kingdom, you still can visit on Java many Hindu temple, the most known is Prambanam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prambanan) so is the swastika an old known symbol in the Malay world. It's maybe a relict from this time?

I've noticed this symbol already by Balinese blades but it was the first time that I see it on a Muslim blade. I want to start already a thread after the auction was closed since I was astonished as well to see such a symbol on a badik blade. But forget it and I am now happy to see you as new owner of this piece with the same question.
Like said, a beautiful badik with some questions. I hope that others can add more to this interesting piece.

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 12th August 2015, 03:03 AM

I just read a little bit more about Hinduism in Indonesia, here a statement I found in this german wiki link:https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulawesi
"Sulawesi wurde seit dem 15. Jahrhundert islamisiert, als der Islam in Indonesien Fuß fasste. Zuvor waren Buddhismus und Hinduismus vorherrschend, die aber stark von lokalen Traditionen durchdrungen waren. Der Islam vermischte sich ebenfalls mit traditionellen Glaubensvorstellungen."
Free translation: Sulawesi become islamicized in the 15th century when Islam become to grow in Indonesia. Before Buddhism and Hinduism have been predominant but both were steeped from local beliefs. The Islam get mixed as well with traditional beliefs.
Maybe a further explanation how a swastika found it's way on a Muslim blade.

Regards,
Detlef

asomotif · 12th August 2015, 10:31 AM

Nice Badik Charles.

Never a regular piece in your collection :-)

Maybe you can check this thread with a sword combining islam inscription with swastika's.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=banjarmasin

Also I would like to refer to blunderbusses with swastika motifs being used in Atjeh.

Best regards,
Willem

11th August 2015, 08:37 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	I'd Like to Learn More About this Interesting Badek/Badik This badek was an Ebay purchase from a large collection of SE Asian edged weapons. You can see the immediate attraction...the unusual blade! The hilt is carved horn and quite plain, as is the hardwood scabbard. The the blade, though, is heavy, thick pamor steel, but smooth like a Balinese keris, and is chiseled with a panel of interlocking swastikas covered in silver on both sides. There is a floral pattern at the forte like you might expect to see on a kard, karud, or pesh kabz dagger, and the spine is inlaid with a silver floral motif. You can see the the top of the fuller(side of the spine on the side) was once inlaid in silver as well, with most of it now lost. You can see other losses to the silver work as well. The patina to the hilt and scabbard, paired with the loss of some of the original silver seem to indicate some good age on this piece; I would suggest at least 100 years or more. An awful lot of work went into chiseling the side panels of this dagger and I am wondering if anyone is familiar with the swastika reference in Indonesian religion. I have to think it is linked to Hinduism, where it is associated with good fortune and the universal nature(four faces of Brahman). I am anxious for any input that may apply these motifs more directly to Indonesia. Comments welcomed. Dimensions: Overall length: 17.25in. Blade length: 12.33in. Widest point of the blade: 1.75in. Attached Images

12th August 2015, 02:04 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Hello Charles, one of the best badik I've seen. I have followed the auction and when I remember correct I bid also and still keep the auction pictures. While the Bugis are mostly Muslims, and I think that it is a Bugis badik, are the Balinese until today Hindu, they coming at the end of Mataram time from Central Java to Bali. The Mataram Kingdom, 8th -10th century was temporary a Hindu Kingdom, you still can visit on Java many Hindu temple, the most known is Prambanam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prambanan) so is the swastika an old known symbol in the Malay world. It's maybe a relict from this time? I've noticed this symbol already by Balinese blades but it was the first time that I see it on a Muslim blade. I want to start already a thread after the auction was closed since I was astonished as well to see such a symbol on a badik blade. But forget it and I am now happy to see you as new owner of this piece with the same question. Like said, a beautiful badik with some questions. I hope that others can add more to this interesting piece. Regards, Detlef Last edited by Sajen; 12th August 2015 at 09:33 AM.

11th August 2015, 10:02 PM	#2
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Similar swastika-like designs are found on some Tiuk Pengentas. Perhaps your knife is a variation of these ceremonial knives?

11th August 2015, 11:44 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Thanks Russel. I agree that this is certainly a ceremonial piece even if all the fittings seem very "dressed down". The weight and balance of the blade are not really like other badeks and it's poorly balanced. The blade almost seems too heavy for the hilt. Also, it is not particularly sharp.

12th August 2015, 03:03 AM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	I just read a little bit more about Hinduism in Indonesia, here a statement I found in this german wiki link:https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulawesi "Sulawesi wurde seit dem 15. Jahrhundert islamisiert, als der Islam in Indonesien Fuß fasste. Zuvor waren Buddhismus und Hinduismus vorherrschend, die aber stark von lokalen Traditionen durchdrungen waren. Der Islam vermischte sich ebenfalls mit traditionellen Glaubensvorstellungen." Free translation: Sulawesi become islamicized in the 15th century when Islam become to grow in Indonesia. Before Buddhism and Hinduism have been predominant but both were steeped from local beliefs. The Islam get mixed as well with traditional beliefs. Maybe a further explanation how a swastika found it's way on a Muslim blade. Regards, Detlef

12th August 2015, 10:31 AM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice Badik Charles. Never a regular piece in your collection :-) Maybe you can check this thread with a sword combining islam inscription with swastika's. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=banjarmasin Also I would like to refer to blunderbusses with swastika motifs being used in Atjeh. Best regards, Willem