Go on..... show us your Sumara

Sajen · 19th February 2012, 04:40 PM

Hello members,

since never before at this place was shown a Sumara I want to share my one with you because I think that this are very beautiful and unusual swords.
The very nice and fine carved handle is set together from two pieces of horn. At the scabbard which is also from two pieces of wood held together by finely wooven rotan (?) bands you will find as well some nice carvings. The end piece of the sheath is a later replacement and not the original one. The sword in scabbard is 81 cm long and the blade is 47 cm.

Hope to see some other nice examples.

Regards,

Detlef

danny1976 · 19th February 2012, 10:07 PM

Hi Detlef ,

Nice piece with great carvings on the handle !

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny1976

Hi Detlef ,

Nice piece with great carvings on the handle !

Hi Danny,

thank you my friend!

No other sumara in the collections of our members? Michael??

Battara · 20th February 2012, 03:01 PM

Wish I had one............but yours is nice. Yes love the hilt carvings.

Flavio · 20th February 2012, 03:22 PM

I Sajen! Sumara are quite rare and yours is very nice. Maybe we will see maybe one or two more....

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Wish I had one............but yours is nice. Yes love the hilt carvings.

Thank you Jose!

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavio

I Sajen! Sumara are quite rare and yours is very nice. Maybe we will see maybe one or two more....

Hi Flavio,

also to you many thanks! Hope as well to see some more!

Flavio · 20th February 2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Flavio,

also to you many thanks! Hope as well to see some more!

Me tooooo!!!

I have a Penai, but not a Sumara

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavio

Me tooooo!!!

I have a Penai, but not a Sumara

Have changed the title of the thread, so your pictures are very welcome!!

Flavio · 20th February 2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Have changed the title of the thread, so your pictures are very welcome!!

Here we go

I think that now we will have more pictures

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 05:45 PM

Hi Flavio,

thank you! A nice sword you have there, the carvings are very similar. And the blade is in much better condition as my one.

Let's hope to see more examples!

Maurice · 20th February 2012, 06:33 PM

Nice swords.
Unfortunately I don't own one, but I handled several of them.
If I would buy one, I'm going for one wrapped in tinfoil....

Hope to see one in this thread!

Maurice

VVV · 20th February 2012, 07:13 PM

Nice Sumara Detlef!

It seems that I have lost the pictures of one of them. So here it is with its cousins on my Toraja wall. And then an older one but without scabbard...

Michael

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 08:21 PM

Hi Michael,

very very nice your Toraja wall!

And so I have been correct when i "call" your name. The old type sumara is just beautiful, I only have seen one before.
How is named the sword with the hair at the handle?

Regards,

Detlef

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Nice swords.
Unfortunately I don't own one, but I handled several of them.
If I would buy one, I'm going for one wrapped in tinfoil....

Hope to see one in this thread!

Maurice

Hi Maurice,

nice to "see" you here again!

I never have seen one wrapped in tinfoil so I hope as well to see here one!

Regards,

Detlef

Maurice · 20th February 2012, 08:32 PM

Very nice examples Michael!

Thank you Detlef. I've added two images from the Leiden museum collection.
I've seen a similar for sale some years ago, but unfortunately I wasn't able to grab it at the time...

Maurice

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Thank you Detlef. I've added two images from the Leiden museum collection.
I've seen a similar for sale some years ago, but unfortunately I wasn't able to grab it at the time...

Maurice

Thank you for the pictures! I think I have to look more at the site from the Leiden museum.

When I look at the both examples I direct get the thought that maybe all was wrapped at one time with tinfoil..

Regards,

Detlef

VVV · 20th February 2012, 08:56 PM

Detlef,

The one with hair is also a Penai. They changed the top of the hilt depending on what use they had in mind (war, rituals etc.). Unlike for the mandau it seems that it always is human hair on these Penai.

Michael

Sajen · 20th February 2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Detlef,

The one with hair is also a Penai. They changed the top of the hilt depending on what use they had in mind (war, rituals etc.). Unlike for the mandau it seems that it always is human hair on these Penai.

Michael

Thank you Michael, again, a beautiful display with very nice swords!

Maurice · 16th August 2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Unfortunately I don't own one, but I handled several of them.
If I would buy one, I'm going for one wrapped in tinfoil....

Hope to see one in this thread!

Maurice

Here's my new find!
Hopefully there are some remnants of tin foil, which would do also to get me satisfied....

I'm very pleased some of the "almost ever" missing cord is still there..

Sajen · 16th August 2012, 04:23 PM

Hi Maurice,

very nice example!

Seems to have a nice pamor. please post more pictures when you have received it.

Regards,

Detlef

Maurice · 30th August 2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Maurice,

very nice example!

Seems to have a nice pamor. please post more pictures when you have received it.

Regards,

Detlef

OK Detlef, I got it and was very pleasantly surprised of the quality, which wasn't shown in the images of the seller clearly.

I'm collecting Borneo, but think I will not be able to trade/ part with this one, as it's a pure headhunting sword (though from Celebes).
Look at the complicated knotted hair at the handle of one of the victims!

Also a great surplus is that the blade is covered with tin. As I said before this was done with swords which had taken heads! Unfortunately some rust comes through here and there, but I decided not to clean it, avoiding loosing some of the tin (which I definately not want).

Regards,
Maurice

asomotif · 21st October 2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Look at the complicated knotted hair at the handle of one of the victims!

Hi Maurice,
Just wanted to add that the way of tying the hair is exactly the same as on the 3 celebes spears that I own.
Unfortunately the spears are decorated with monkey or dyed goat hair.

Best regards,
Willem

Maurice · 21st October 2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hi Maurice,
Just wanted to add that the way of tying the hair is exactly the same as on the 3 celebes spears that I own.
Unfortunately the spears are decorated with monkey or dyed goat hair.

Best regards,
Willem

Hi Willem,

Can you post some images of the tying of the hair?
Probably they are from the same area than...

Kind Regards,
Maurice

asomotif · 21st October 2012, 11:03 PM

Hmmmm...

I wish I had some daylight available at this hour

Here 2 close ups of hair decoration on the spears.

Maurice · 22nd October 2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hmmmm...

I wish I had some daylight available at this hour

Here 2 close ups of hair decoration on the spears.

Yes indeed the same way as on the penai! Thanks for the images. I bet they're beauties of spears....

Kind regards,
Maurice

asomotif · 22nd October 2012, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Yes indeed the same way as on the penai! Thanks for the images. I bet they're beauties of spears....
Kind regards,
Maurice

Well.... spears can be sort of boring... but if you line them up they make a nice display

Come on forumites, show us some more sumara's !!!

Maurice · 23rd October 2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Well.... spears can be sort of boring... but if you line them up they make a nice display

Come on forumites, show us some more sumara's !!!

Very nice display Willem.
I still have a Borneo spear for you lying here. I will not able to take it to you by train next month, as it would be a strange sight...

PS. Here an old image of Celebes swords (around 1911).....

asomotif · 23rd October 2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

PS. Here an old image of Celebes swords (around 1911).....

5 of them with tassels. That is what you hope to find in a garage sale

Athanase · 3rd February 2021, 10:43 AM

Hello, here is my first Sumara :

19th February 2012, 04:40 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	Go on..... show us your Sumara/Penai Hello members, since never before at this place was shown a Sumara I want to share my one with you because I think that this are very beautiful and unusual swords. The very nice and fine carved handle is set together from two pieces of horn. At the scabbard which is also from two pieces of wood held together by finely wooven rotan (?) bands you will find as well some nice carvings. The end piece of the sheath is a later replacement and not the original one. The sword in scabbard is 81 cm long and the blade is 47 cm. Hope to see some other nice examples. Regards, Detlef Attached Images Last edited by Sajen; 20th February 2012 at 04:22 PM.

20th February 2012, 06:33 PM	#12
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,330	Nice swords. Unfortunately I don't own one, but I handled several of them. If I would buy one, I'm going for one wrapped in tinfoil.... Hope to see one in this thread! Maurice Last edited by Maurice; 20th February 2012 at 07:17 PM.

20th February 2012, 07:13 PM	#13
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice Sumara Detlef! It seems that I have lost the pictures of one of them. So here it is with its cousins on my Toraja wall. And then an older one but without scabbard... Michael Attached Images

20th February 2012, 08:32 PM	#16
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,330	Very nice examples Michael! Thank you Detlef. I've added two images from the Leiden museum collection. I've seen a similar for sale some years ago, but unfortunately I wasn't able to grab it at the time... Maurice Attached Images

21st October 2012, 11:03 PM	#25
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,224	Hmmmm... I wish I had some daylight available at this hour Here 2 close ups of hair decoration on the spears. Attached Images

19th February 2012, 10:07 PM	#2
danny1976 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holland Posts: 245	Hi Detlef , Nice piece with great carvings on the handle !

20th February 2012, 03:01 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,217	Wish I had one............but yours is nice. Yes love the hilt carvings.

20th February 2012, 03:22 PM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	I Sajen! Sumara are quite rare and yours is very nice. Maybe we will see maybe one or two more....

20th February 2012, 05:45 PM	#11
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	Hi Flavio, thank you! A nice sword you have there, the carvings are very similar. And the blade is in much better condition as my one. Let's hope to see more examples!

20th February 2012, 08:21 PM	#14
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	Hi Michael, very very nice your Toraja wall! And so I have been correct when i "call" your name. The old type sumara is just beautiful, I only have seen one before. How is named the sword with the hair at the handle? Regards, Detlef

20th February 2012, 08:56 PM	#18
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Detlef, The one with hair is also a Penai. They changed the top of the hilt depending on what use they had in mind (war, rituals etc.). Unlike for the mandau it seems that it always is human hair on these Penai. Michael

16th August 2012, 04:23 PM	#21
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	Hi Maurice, very nice example! Seems to have a nice pamor. please post more pictures when you have received it. Regards, Detlef

3rd February 2021, 10:43 AM	#30
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Hello, here is my first Sumara : Attached Images