Restored Lopah Petawaran

[Battara]

Greeting folks!

I got this lopah petawaran (thanks Detlef ) and restored it. Half of the hilt was cut off and on upside down:

[Robert]

How about a few photos to show your work.

[Battara]

(Computer problems - pieces of junk! )

Here are the pictures of my restoration attempts:

[Battara]

I forgot to mention that according to Detlef and Zonneveld this is from the Karo on Sumatra, Indonesia.

Any other comments are welcomed and appreciated.

[CharlesS]

Battara, the hilt on the LP is no easy thing to replicate and it looks like you did a nice job using historical examples. I especially like spherical finial... you seem to excel in finely crafted details like that. Awesome sauce!

[asomotif]

What did the top of the hilt look like ?

[Battara]

Thank you Charles! I love to do research.

Asomotif, the top was missing and all I had was the bottom half of the hilt (see first pictures at top).

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Battara

Thank you Charles! I love to do research.

Asomotif, the top was missing and all I had was the bottom half of the hilt (see first pictures at top).

I mean. was the top of the hilt open showing a wooden/horrn or resin core ?
Or was it finished with a metal plate ?

[kai]

I got this lopah petawaran (thanks Detlef ) and restored it. Half of the hilt was cut off and on upside down:

Whoa, Jose, hold your horses!

Willem is on the right track - I'm also fairly sure that the hilt was original as is. I'd agree that it might have been turned upside down though.

Jose, your example is a known type that is characterized by a kinda simple blade without bolster; the hilts tend to be often only very slightly curved and there may be (but not always is) an exposed tang protruding from the pommel.

The typical lopah petawaran is characterized by a blade with an integral bolster (somewhat resembling a rencong bolster) and the typically strongly curved hilt of the hulu jongo type.

I thought I had sufficiently explained this here previously:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23443
I'm attaching a pic taken by Michael which shows the two types side by side.

And, yes, the current example is Karo Batak, indeed.

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

William the original hilt is made of wood that was cut straight and exposed.

Kai I studied those of the other form and the examples I saw had scalloped edges and covered with a but plate of silver, yes most with a metal protrusion from the center.

Mine did not have a place for a protrusion nor a but plate nor scalloped edges, so based on this plus research plus the advice of forum members who know more than I on this subject, I restored this the way I did.

[kai]

Hello Jose,

the original hilt is made of wood that was cut straight and exposed.

Could you post a pic, please?

I studied those of the other form and the examples I saw had scalloped edges and covered with a but plate of silver, yes most with a metal protrusion from the center.

Mine did not have a place for a protrusion nor a but plate nor scalloped edges, so based on this plus research plus the advice of forum members who know more than I on this subject, I restored this the way I did.

I'd certainly be interested to see examples with the simple type of blade and a hulu jongo hilt. Maybe you or other forumites could show any pieces?

Regards,
Kai

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Battara

William the original hilt is made of wood that was cut straight and exposed.

Kai I studied those of the other form and the examples I saw had scalloped edges and covered with a but plate of silver, yes most with a metal protrusion from the center.

Mine did not have a place for a protrusion nor a but plate nor scalloped edges, so based on this plus research plus the advice of forum members who know more than I on this subject, I restored this the way I did.

Thanks,
that was what I was wondering indeed.

Best regards,
Willem

[Battara]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Jose,

Could you post a pic, please?

Ok here is the picture of the end of the hilt before restoration.

[kai]

Hello Jose,

Ok here is the picture of the end of the hilt before restoration.

Thanks, that helps to put things into perspective!

BTW, if you ever get access to this part again, I'd be interested in a thin sliver of the wood (preferably cut with a razor) for identification purposes.

From the looks it seems that the wood surface exhibits some patina & wear: So, it wasn't freshly cut (nor a recent amputation of an older hilt). I reckon the current surface was never meant to be visible; otherwise, the hilt shape is pretty typical for the variant type (except for the scalloped pommel/top as you already mentioned; not all examples exhibit this feature though).

My best bet would be that this hilt was fully covered with silver of which the top got lost sometime during use.

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Hello Jose, I agree with the most what Kai has written already and don't think that the handle was such a hulu jongo like you have given it now. All the lopah petawaran I've seen until now with a blade without decorated bolster has had a rather simple handle so I think that the top was covered with a silver capping instead of an elongation.
If the handle was upside down I am usure about but it is good possible.
But a good restore job without doubt, congrats!

Regards,
Detlef