![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
Here for viewing is an old Nias sword. This sword was in the Metropolitan Museum in New York for a time. The handle is a stylized lasara figure in cast brass. The amulet ball is covered in crocodile claws The basket is filled with several amulets, sharks teeth, Pieces of cloth, some kind of stones. Scabbard is a full 3 inches wide, twice as wide as most Nias scabbards, and has an iron hanging hook near the top. Blade is 21 inches long and is of the normal Nias style. Ex. collection L. van Bussel Amsterdam..........Dave.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 192
|
![]()
It's a beauty! And with an exceptional brass hilt.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 318
|
![]()
Superb example, beautiful.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mother North
Posts: 189
|
![]()
Hi Dave,
That's an amazing piece - all the way down to the shape of the blade. Can you see what's inside the amulet ball? You're spot on with the Crocodylian origin, but these seem to be the teeth supported by inserted wooden pegs (they're kind of fragile near the base. On the really high status/old Balatos, from a time when tigers were still plentyful in that part of the world, you also sometimes see tiger canines on these balls. Thanks for sharing! -Thor Edit: Ah, re-reading your post, I remember you already described the contents of the ball - cool. ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
|
![]()
VERY NICE
![]() IN BORNEO BRASS AND BRONZE WERE CAST AS CANNON ( LANTKA), AND JEWLRY ESPECIALLY LARGE HEAVY EAR RINGS. PERHAPS NIAS TRIBES DID SIMULAR THINGS AS THEY MAKE NEAT ARMOR, HELMETS, BLADES AND SPEARS THERE. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,324
|
![]()
Hello Dave,
How had the ball been attached to the scabbard? Is there a round wooden protrusion on the scabbard with a hole through it, where the ratan ball is placed over? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|