Pedang with European-style hilt

rumpel9 · 5th November 2018, 01:53 PM

Hi, falks.
Recently, I purchased pedang with a blade typical of the Malayan archipelago and a European-style hilt. As seen in the pictures, the blade has a clearly visible pamor. Judging by the shape of the blade and pamor type, I can assume that it was made in Java. The hilt is made in the European style, but the quality is very different from European models.
The sheath is also made very simply and is made up of two wooden halves. However, they are also given European features. I mean the metal end of the scabbard.

rumpel9 · 5th November 2018, 01:56 PM

This is the second pedang of this type in my collection. Here are the pictures of another one.

rumpel9 · 5th November 2018, 02:11 PM

A few more pedangs with the same hilt, but with slightly different blades I saw in the photos.
Given all this, it can be assumed that there was some kind of mass production. Perhaps such weapons were made for local residents in the service of the colonial administration. It is known that for the inhabitants of the Malay Archipelago, the blade with a pamor is of great sacral significance and is inherited. Therefore, it was allowed to put their personal blades, but otherwise they tried to give the weapon a European appearance.
What is your opinion about this?

A. G. Maisey · 5th November 2018, 08:31 PM

During the late colonial period in Jawa (say, from +/-1850 to 1940) many, if not most Javanese rulers equipped their palace guards and ceremonial forces with European style swords. Occasionally these swords had a European blade, more often it was a locally made blade.

The Susuhunan of Surakarta, Pakubuwana X, who ruled from 1893 to 1939 was particularly influenced by European style and many pedangs of this European influenced style originated in his Karaton.

These swords were not made as pusaka, that is, they were not regarded as items for inheritance or possessing any esoteric or spiritual content, they were Kraton (palace) property and used for ceremony only.

The photos below were taken in the Karaton Surakarta in 2015. The wall display is located in the Karaton museum --- sorry for the quality, this museum is not particularly well lit, it helps if you take a torch with you. The fancy dress soldiers are parading in the Karaton courtyard.

Ian · 6th November 2018, 02:34 AM

Hi rumpel9:

Thanks for showing this interesting sword. Last year I posted a thread about a Dutch klewang bearing the marks of the Soerakata Kraton and the ruler PB X. It can be found here. As Alan has noted, these karaton-inspired European imitations seem to have been entirely for display/parade purposes. Nonetheless, they are interesting cross-cultural pieces.

Ian.

rumpel9 · 7th November 2018, 01:25 PM

Alan and Ian, thank you for your replies and useful information.

5th November 2018, 01:53 PM	#1
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 68	Pedang with European-style hilt Hi, falks. Recently, I purchased pedang with a blade typical of the Malayan archipelago and a European-style hilt. As seen in the pictures, the blade has a clearly visible pamor. Judging by the shape of the blade and pamor type, I can assume that it was made in Java. The hilt is made in the European style, but the quality is very different from European models. The sheath is also made very simply and is made up of two wooden halves. However, they are also given European features. I mean the metal end of the scabbard. Attached Images

5th November 2018, 01:56 PM	#2
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 68	This is the second pedang of this type in my collection. Here are the pictures of another one. Attached Images

5th November 2018, 08:31 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,877	During the late colonial period in Jawa (say, from +/-1850 to 1940) many, if not most Javanese rulers equipped their palace guards and ceremonial forces with European style swords. Occasionally these swords had a European blade, more often it was a locally made blade. The Susuhunan of Surakarta, Pakubuwana X, who ruled from 1893 to 1939 was particularly influenced by European style and many pedangs of this European influenced style originated in his Karaton. These swords were not made as pusaka, that is, they were not regarded as items for inheritance or possessing any esoteric or spiritual content, they were Kraton (palace) property and used for ceremony only. The photos below were taken in the Karaton Surakarta in 2015. The wall display is located in the Karaton museum --- sorry for the quality, this museum is not particularly well lit, it helps if you take a torch with you. The fancy dress soldiers are parading in the Karaton courtyard. Attached Images

5th November 2018, 02:11 PM	#3
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 68	A few more pedangs with the same hilt, but with slightly different blades I saw in the photos. Given all this, it can be assumed that there was some kind of mass production. Perhaps such weapons were made for local residents in the service of the colonial administration. It is known that for the inhabitants of the Malay Archipelago, the blade with a pamor is of great sacral significance and is inherited. Therefore, it was allowed to put their personal blades, but otherwise they tried to give the weapon a European appearance. What is your opinion about this?

6th November 2018, 02:34 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,194	Hi rumpel9: Thanks for showing this interesting sword. Last year I posted a thread about a Dutch klewang bearing the marks of the Soerakata Kraton and the ruler PB X. It can be found here. As Alan has noted, these karaton-inspired European imitations seem to have been entirely for display/parade purposes. Nonetheless, they are interesting cross-cultural pieces. Ian.

7th November 2018, 01:25 PM	#6
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 68	Alan and Ian, thank you for your replies and useful information.