Hilt Identification

[A. G. Maisey]

Here is a photo of a dagger hilt.

It is from Indonesia, & when I acquired it, it had a label attached by a previous owner that gave date & place of acquisition, I have not included the complete dagger because I do not want to influence anybody's opinion.

This question is directed only at the hilt shown.

Over the years I have had opinions from a number of people in respect of place of origin of this hilt, & I have my own opinion that has been formed from pictures seen in books.

Perhaps a total of 8 or 10 opinions in all --- people & books.

All these opinions vary to a greater or lesser degree.

Does anybody have a confident opinion on place of origin of this hilt?

[Bob A]

Reminds me somehow of some hilts I've seen from Nias, but I doubt I'm correct.

Even so, someone has to open the guessing.

[GIO]

Could it be from Mindanao ?

[Sajen]

To me it's a stylized makara handle, so a Sunda or Sumatra origin would be obvious to me.

[A. G. Maisey]

Thank you gentlemen.

Your responses demonstrate the problem I have had to the present time.

Hopefully a few more people might like to post a confident opinion.

Is anybody able to nominate an authoritative reference?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Is anybody able to nominate an authoritative reference?

Hello Alan,

Sadly no! But I think that it's indeed a stylized makara handle, compare it with a pedang handle from Lombok. Another possible origin.
When I am correct, we only have to look where makara handles were used, direct to mind coming Java, Sunda, Sumatra and Lombok.