South-East Asian sword with a Persian trade blade for discussion

[kai]

Hello Tatyana,

Thanks for posting this wootz blade in Southeast Asian mounts!

The handle has a Malay Sundang form. Both the handle and the scabbard are painted with translucent lacquer. Can this sword originate from Malaysia? I think that lacquer design is the clew.

Palembang was famous for similar lacquer work and certainly in line with heavy Chinese influence across eastern Sumatra, the Straits area, etc.

I hesitate to narrow down the pommel style. And the lacquer work does not seem to be old-style Palembang (nor Chinese/Japanese), too. The ferrule is very crudely done for what should be a status piece and the thin guard-like scabbard throat (rather than it being attached to the hilt and more sturdy) does raise an eye-brow: IMHO this ensemble is post-19th century, probably karmadikan.

Regards,
Kai