"Bawar" hilts from Aceh

[erikscollectables]

Originally Posted by Gustav

Very, very interesting!

And it stops at the most interesting point! A little bit like a TV production.

With impatience waiting for the continuation

The total is 4,5 pages including a legend around a specifi bawar...
Here the highlights:
*Sign of dignity for the "heads" of gayo given by the Sultan of Aceh - the "owner" of the lands.
*They were passed on each generation to the new ruler
*They are very old (written in 1914)
*The blade has the wavy form and size of the Javanese keris.
*It should be worn in a much longer sheath
*Most of these sheaths have been lost by new ones
*They are worn in a girdle in the front of the body.
*Most often as it is too precious it is covered in clothes and worn by one of the people
*The ones in the photo have a grip made of silver, a cup made of suassa set with rubies of which many have been lost over time.
*The sheath is short but very old and made of a beautiful type of wood and with some decoration in the wood.
*Apart from the local kings also some lesser heads have them but it is doubtfull if these were really gifts by the Sultan of Aceh.
*Probably many of these were locally made to improve the status of the lesser heads.
*The "copies" also have been passed down the line and now are also pusaka's
*The are less beautifull with grips of copper or even wood.
*The were also used at feast to give the wearer more status for example on a wedding.

Well that is it for the moment.
If any of you have one please make a picture and if you have on to sell do send a mail...

[Sajen]

One nice example is shown on the kris disc from Jensen chapter 9.3, picture 173b.

[erikscollectables]

Originally Posted by Sajen

One nice example is shown on the kris disc from Jensen chapter 9.3, picture 173b.

Indeed a similar one of the type with a wooden hilt and very nice suassa/gold cup style selut.