Indonesian/Indian Ankus or Spearhead?

A. G. Maisey · 2nd September 2017, 09:03 PM

This image was copied from Sachse, he copied from somewhere else, maybe Jasper & Pirngadie. Sachse is not the book that I had in mind, I've got a small publication that has a lot of images of spears in it, that were originally published in J&P. I'll look for it when I have time.

In Jawa any spear is called "tombak".

I do not know the name for a finial, but it might be acceptable to use "sirah" or "endhas", both words mean "head", but in different language levels -- sirah is Krama, endhas is Ngoko. Possibly Krama usage would be more appropriate, assuming the use is associated with a higher level of society.

A finial sometimes appears on the top of a shaft used for a banner in a procession.

The spear head would also be ceremonial, possibly also processional, but I do not know the precise use, by this I mean that I do not know exactly what procession it would be appropriate to use it in..

Richard G · 3rd September 2017, 07:28 PM

Whilst not necessarily making an an attribution of these examples, spears were used by 'elephantiers' for the control of elephants. An elephant, being such a big beast, cannot always be controlled by it's mahout and attendants would walk alongside with a spear pressed to the elephants cheek to keep it on the straight and narrow, particularly if the elephant has a reputation for being 'wayward'. Such spears can be ceremonial, often decorative, but with a purpose, and do not need a particularly strong spike, merely one that the elephant feels threatening to it's eyes.
Regards
Richard.

Henk · 4th September 2017, 08:34 PM

I will try to dig up the book and post some scans of the images later this week.

ArmsAndAntiques · 5th September 2017, 05:19 PM

Thanks for all leading the way on the references. I was able to find a number of plates in Jasper and Pirngadie Volume V which show an astounding assortment of these spearheads or toembak (as they're referenced in the volume). I post them below. Another assumption is that devoting essentially all the color plates to these examples must have meant that they had some significance either from the workmanship side or the cultural side, though I'll let the more knowledgeable forum member discuss that.

In the many "ethnographic: read non-European" metalworking cultures in which I'm personally interested in, I haven't seen such a wide assortment of figural metalwork, some of which I'd assume would have been smithed from pamor. I've only seen one of this style of spearhead in person and it was of an exceptional level of workmanship, but I've never seen any others in hand or even published as actual examples in photographs.

In any case, those of us who love iron work and may find these plates interesting.

The first post is the plate description followed by the plates themselves.

ArmsAndAntiques · 5th September 2017, 05:20 PM

Next set of images.

ArmsAndAntiques · 5th September 2017, 05:21 PM

Another set of images from Jasper and Pirngadie Volume V.

ArmsAndAntiques · 5th September 2017, 05:22 PM

Image set 4

2nd September 2017, 09:03 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	This image was copied from Sachse, he copied from somewhere else, maybe Jasper & Pirngadie. Sachse is not the book that I had in mind, I've got a small publication that has a lot of images of spears in it, that were originally published in J&P. I'll look for it when I have time. In Jawa any spear is called "tombak". I do not know the name for a finial, but it might be acceptable to use "sirah" or "endhas", both words mean "head", but in different language levels -- sirah is Krama, endhas is Ngoko. Possibly Krama usage would be more appropriate, assuming the use is associated with a higher level of society. A finial sometimes appears on the top of a shaft used for a banner in a procession. The spear head would also be ceremonial, possibly also processional, but I do not know the precise use, by this I mean that I do not know exactly what procession it would be appropriate to use it in.. Attached Images

5th September 2017, 05:19 PM	#4
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Thanks for all leading the way on the references. I was able to find a number of plates in Jasper and Pirngadie Volume V which show an astounding assortment of these spearheads or toembak (as they're referenced in the volume). I post them below. Another assumption is that devoting essentially all the color plates to these examples must have meant that they had some significance either from the workmanship side or the cultural side, though I'll let the more knowledgeable forum member discuss that. In the many "ethnographic: read non-European" metalworking cultures in which I'm personally interested in, I haven't seen such a wide assortment of figural metalwork, some of which I'd assume would have been smithed from pamor. I've only seen one of this style of spearhead in person and it was of an exceptional level of workmanship, but I've never seen any others in hand or even published as actual examples in photographs. In any case, those of us who love iron work and may find these plates interesting. The first post is the plate description followed by the plates themselves. Attached Images

5th September 2017, 05:20 PM	#5
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Next set of images. Attached Images

5th September 2017, 05:21 PM	#6
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Another set of images from Jasper and Pirngadie Volume V. Attached Images

5th September 2017, 05:22 PM	#7
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Image set 4 Attached Images

3rd September 2017, 07:28 PM	#2
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 409	Whilst not necessarily making an an attribution of these examples, spears were used by 'elephantiers' for the control of elephants. An elephant, being such a big beast, cannot always be controlled by it's mahout and attendants would walk alongside with a spear pressed to the elephants cheek to keep it on the straight and narrow, particularly if the elephant has a reputation for being 'wayward'. Such spears can be ceremonial, often decorative, but with a purpose, and do not need a particularly strong spike, merely one that the elephant feels threatening to it's eyes. Regards Richard.

4th September 2017, 08:34 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I will try to dig up the book and post some scans of the images later this week.