Malay Klewang?

kai · 4th February 2013, 12:48 AM

Hello Thor,

Quote:

doesn't the condition of the blade kind of look a bit like an acid dip? I.e. that the blade perhaps has been artificially aged?

Being a bit paranoid does help to prevent making mistakes with collecting...

I'm fairly sure that the blade is antique (or at least old vintage) though; the scabbard is a later replacement as Detlef pointed out already. If anything, I'd scrutinize the silver work, especially if this were coming directly out of Sumatra (where there are workshops busily "upgrading" genuine antique blades for selling with a greater profit margin.

In this case, I guess the discrepancy between the unprotected, rusty blade and the recently polished silver is the main reason for it looking a bit fishy. IMHO it it quite possibly might turn out to be ok/genuine - Moshah, maybe you can add some close-ups of the silver work?

Regards,
Kai

Moshah · 4th February 2013, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

If anything, I'd scrutinize the silver work, especially if this were coming directly out of Sumatra (where there are workshops busily "upgrading" genuine antique blades for selling with a greater profit margin.

If this was the case then I would be worry too

Sorry I haven't got a good camera this time to get a decent shots on the silver works. Definitely doesn't look shiny, no bling-bling there but I guess those workshop surely know better on how to vintage-ly upgrade it, if it was the case with this klewang...

However I did not see a lot of this type of klewang were on sale in the net or curio shops. Or at least not of this type, but we do see some which looks like a cross-over between a klewang and a machete / golok type around. Usually with simple wooden hilt.

I've seen one over the net with the same silver stripes on the back of the edge. As long as it was not a reworked strips, I guess it could well be a ceremonial piece too...

T. Koch · 4th February 2013, 12:13 PM

Mosha, I am not sure at all. It was exactly the newly carved scabbard in combination with the very uniform dispersion of oxidation together with it's color, that made me suspicious. Might also be the photos, as mentioned.

If Kai says it's good to go, I'd trust him 100%!

I am just a novice when it comes to arms collecting, but I am collecting on a very limited budget and I simply can't afford to make mistakes with my funds. It probably also means that I miss out on some good-deal false-negatives, but I'll just have to live with that.

Take care, - Thor

Moshah · 4th February 2013, 01:43 PM

That is how it works with most of the collectors, IMHO.

I always think it is better to be extra careful as it pays. All you need is patience, which is supposedly to be limitless but sometimes you are going to miss a few good things and cringe for the thought of that. However, it is better than cringing for a junk that you wish you won't buy...

I think being extra careful is really a virtue, in this hobby.

Cheers.

kai · 5th February 2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

If Kai says it's good to go, I'd trust him 100%!

Nah, I also have my share of mistakes on record.

kai · 5th February 2013, 11:15 AM

Hello Moshah,

Quote:

I've seen one over the net with the same silver stripes on the back of the edge. As long as it was not a reworked strips, I guess it could well be a ceremonial piece too...

Those marks are quite commonly found on blades throughout the archipelago and are usually implicated as talismanic.

From what I can glean from your pics, the silverwork seems to be ok. The next step for me would be to mine online museum resources and compare the decoration style of your piece in detail with those examples.

Please keep us posted whatever you come up with!

Regards,
Kai

Moshah · 5th February 2013, 01:16 PM

That should ease my prejudice over the silverworks, Kai. I've only been to Sumatra once (Medan that is - perhaps 15 years ago) and know next to nothing about their "antique upgrades" industry. Based on your info, I think it is alerting and extra careful is needed from now on...

I have been browsing over the net these few days, but then again I found out that this piece and other kelewangs were not exactly of the same type. Perhaps in Zoonevelt's book it stated "south Sumatra" or perhaps in some other sites, but I really need to narrow down its demographic so that I can start researching a specific roots from which this piece was coming from.

On the other hand, I would also like to know more on how did this Sumatran kelewang could end up in Perak, Malaysia. Historically the ties between the Perak's Sultanate (off Malacca's Sultanate) and the Sumatra was really intertwined, so the possibilities was there.

I'm going to start interrogate the dealer soon...

4th February 2013, 12:13 PM	#3
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Mosha, I am not sure at all. It was exactly the newly carved scabbard in combination with the very uniform dispersion of oxidation together with it's color, that made me suspicious. Might also be the photos, as mentioned. If Kai says it's good to go, I'd trust him 100%! I am just a novice when it comes to arms collecting, but I am collecting on a very limited budget and I simply can't afford to make mistakes with my funds. It probably also means that I miss out on some good-deal false-negatives, but I'll just have to live with that. Take care, - Thor

4th February 2013, 01:43 PM	#4
Moshah Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 171	That is how it works with most of the collectors, IMHO. I always think it is better to be extra careful as it pays. All you need is patience, which is supposedly to be limitless but sometimes you are going to miss a few good things and cringe for the thought of that. However, it is better than cringing for a junk that you wish you won't buy... I think being extra careful is really a virtue, in this hobby. Cheers.

5th February 2013, 01:16 PM	#7
Moshah Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 171	That should ease my prejudice over the silverworks, Kai. I've only been to Sumatra once (Medan that is - perhaps 15 years ago) and know next to nothing about their "antique upgrades" industry. Based on your info, I think it is alerting and extra careful is needed from now on... I have been browsing over the net these few days, but then again I found out that this piece and other kelewangs were not exactly of the same type. Perhaps in Zoonevelt's book it stated "south Sumatra" or perhaps in some other sites, but I really need to narrow down its demographic so that I can start researching a specific roots from which this piece was coming from. On the other hand, I would also like to know more on how did this Sumatran kelewang could end up in Perak, Malaysia. Historically the ties between the Perak's Sultanate (off Malacca's Sultanate) and the Sumatra was really intertwined, so the possibilities was there. I'm going to start interrogate the dealer soon...