Sword from the lesser Sunda islands (Timor?)

[Sajen]

First, a affectionate welcome to the forum! I can't understand really why your first very interesting and well researched post with very good pictures don't get more attention.
Since I've handled both swords I have to agree that both are very top-heavy and difficult to handle and also that both show good signs of age and wear and would place them to the first half of the 20th century. And I agree that both are maybe status swords and that they most probably belong to a not documented subtype of Alor swords. Both swords has also very similar carvings on the top of the foot, a good sign of originality.

Regards,
Detlef

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

both show good signs of age and wear and would place them to the first half of the 20th century.

From the pics, the hilt carving of #2 seems to be of somewhat better quality and I'd also consider an earlier date for this sword. The round scabbard foot including the sun motif looks fairly roughly carved though. Please keep up posted if other specialists have been able to examine both pieces.

Both swords has also very similar carvings on the top of the foot

Yes, these oval "windows" cut into the angular intermediate carving (itself a very unusual feature) are an interesting detail! Any remnants of lime paste or even inlay, etc.?

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Yes, these oval "windows" cut into the angular intermediate carving (itself a very unusual feature) are an interesting detail! Any remnants of lime paste or even inlay, etc.?

No signs that there has been lime paste or inlays in this "windows".

[Sentrad]

Thank you very much Detlev and Kai for your nice welcome words! Here are the close-up pics from Alor sword #2 from one side, other side will follow.

Udo

[Sentrad]

Pics from the other side of Alor sword #2. The bottom of the shoe of this sword shows some cracks,perhaps from putting it on the ground during ceremonies?

Udo

[ausjulius]

nice example to see. youd think they woudl actually be more information on these but even among Portuguese and dutch collectors theyer obscure.. or even info on the different timorese ethic styles and different tools ect.

historically timor was a centre of blade making in this area of the archipelago
.. and this style has been transported to papua. the back of the tip of the native papuan made knives is sharp though and their larger blades also have worked spines and punch work which the timorese do not.. ..
but apparently the maccassans would buy the blades in timor and then sell them again in the areas where they traded with the west part of papua.. introducing steel working .. and this same pointy blade..

[kai]

Hello ausjulius,

youd think they woudl actually be more information on these but even among Portuguese and dutch collectors theyer obscure.. or even info on the different timorese ethic styles and different tools ect.

Actually, there is quite a bit to be found in old, antique books, etc. Specializing in these swords and doing more research would be great IMHO!

Also, while genuine antique pieces have never been common, these swords are represented in collections (private as well as musea). Quite a few seem to be in "tribal art" collections and also most weapon collectors will only have one example of the "type" from Nusantara timur rather than focusing on them. I'd suggest to join forces and contribute to a better understanding - posting and discussing any extant examples in this forum would be a first step which might later be follwed up upon by a dedicated group of enthusiasts.

historically timor was a centre of blade making in this area of the archipelago
.. and this style has been transported to papua. the back of the tip of the native papuan made knives is sharp though and their larger blades also have worked spines and punch work which the timorese do not.. ..
but apparently the maccassans would buy the blades in timor and then sell them again in the areas where they traded with the west part of papua.. introducing steel working .. and this same pointy blade..

I'm not sure I'm following you - could you post examples of what you refer to, please?

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Hello Udo,

Sorry for the delay - I'll be back with some more info soon, hopefully.

Thanks a lot for the great close-ups - keep up the good work! BTW, do you have any other examples from the larger Timor region in your collection?

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

<quote>
On item #2, posted by Udo (aka Sentrad) on Sept. 11th, 2014:

I am glad with the detailed photographs. Many, many details, I love it. As far I can see from these photographs (preferable one should feel it in the hand and even smell the natural origin of the materials!) it looks as it is genuine and a weapon with some age. But there are a few differences with what may be called 'the normal Har from Alor island'.

Hilt: as far I can see, this is made of wood. Which is strange. I know only two other made of wood. The decoration running along the 'forehead' differs slightly and is a bit more crudely made than what you would expect from a professional carver. Also the 'eye' is different: the usual form is a circle with a slightly bulbous centre (often covered with a disc made from tin or lead) and not a flat disc. Concerning the metal ferrule at the base of the hilt: normally it is a ring of horn around the base to prevent cracking. Aside from these two examples, I have not seen any metal ferrule on typical Alor sword hilts. This is sometimes seen in Wetar swords, not common though.

Blade: Mostly this is a straight one and more slender, a 'standard' import from Solor. Or, more rare, import from Southern Sulawesi (Rumbiah) with its typical rows of twistcore 'pamor'. These imported blades are often 'reshaped' by filing until obtaining the shape that the Alor people thought was their own tradition (passed on by their ancestors). I cannot see wether there is a brass peg inlaid along the back of the blade where it slopes down towards the tip. Most of the time (nine out of ten) it is present.

Sheath: The wood used here I recognize the same as on one of my swords from Wetar (Opi), also the way of patination on the rattan, now flaked, I found on sheaths of Wetar swords. As already said in my notes before on April 1st, 2010, the disc shaped finial or 'foot' of the sheath of item #1 (and of #2, too!) is weird and unique. It is even more curious to see TWO of these popping up in the same collection!

Provisional conservative conclusion: Because of the fact there are two pieces which have same features (wooden hilt with metal base, just a flat circle as 'eye', not 'standard' blades and rounded foot) and who differ from the 'normal' known swords from Alor, but who have, as far as can be seen from photographs, certain age and show use, it is possible this is a rather rare subspecies of the commonly known Har. That this is originating from Alor rather than from Wetar can be inferred from the carvings on both hilts as well as the sheath of item #1. As far as I know, Wetar Opi have plain hilts with no decoration nor eye, and have undecorated, somewhat wider scabbards.

As explained in my former notes the decoration of the 'wrongka' of item #1 should be from the centre of the island. It is a riddle which I do not have any solution for yet.

I may conclude this is an Alor sword which shows some Wetar influences. Import, immigration, marriage, trade, who knows?

Having said this: This makes collecting Indonesian weaponry so interesting. If you, as a collector, want to find everything easily in a book, you better collect stamps.

Karel Sirag
<unquote>

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

<quote>
Having said this: This makes collecting Indonesian weaponry so interesting. If you, as a collector, want to find everything easily in a book, you better collect stamps.

Karel Sirag
<unquote>

Very true!