Crowns on Aceh weapons revisited

Battara · 8th June 2019, 04:00 AM

I think you are right Detlef. As I re-examined the pictures, the material does look like makassar ebony at best (and purposely burned wood at the worst).

Almost makes me wonder if this was a replacement for broken akhar bahar or ivory.

kai · 8th June 2019, 10:17 PM

We really have to keep in mind that the most precious timbers can be more expensive and rarer than ivory or gold. In the good ol' days, the latter could be easily sourced if you had any decent amount of funds. Special wood like burl, especially with strong chatoyance, correct grain for carving, and possibly extra features needed to be searched for, cured for extended periods, and correctly selected by experienced artisans for the very task - it often wasn't at hand at the whim of the customer. If this hilt is antique, the selection of materials wasn't spurious...

I can't tell this wood from the pics. It seems to have rather large pores for any type of ebony. It might be one of the rarer hardwoods - tough to tell from pics!

Regards,
Kai

kai · 8th June 2019, 10:21 PM

Tim asked me to extend thanks to all who responded!

He seems to have problems with logging in and I hope he'll be back soon.

Regards,
Kai

Loedjoe · 21st August 2019, 11:52 AM

This sikin panjang (length 74.3 cm, blade 57 cm., no scabbard) has an unusual 'third' crown above a normal double crown. Has anyone seen a similar addition above the usual crown? And what was the purpose of it - to make a double crown into a triple one? Any comments from the experts would be most welcome.

kai · 22nd August 2019, 10:15 PM

Hello Tim,

Good to have you back!

I’d vote for 2.5.

The general crown type is of the glupa configuration (2 crowns), with an added ferrule-like ring as is also seen on a few rencong. I reckon this is an original design.

A nice addition to the family!

Regards,
Kai

A. G. Maisey · 22nd August 2019, 10:46 PM

This thread has been running for quite some time, but I have never looked at it previously.

When I look at these "crowns", it strikes me that I am looking at a representation of the tumpal motif.

Has anybody thought to investigate this?

thomas hauschild · 3rd November 2019, 06:31 AM

Asomotif asked me to show the crown on a sikin parang of my collection.

Not with gold inlay. Made of bronce maybe (or hopefully) made of souasa.

Best thomas

Ian · 4th July 2023, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

This thread has been running for quite some time, but I have never looked at it previously.

When I look at these "crowns", it strikes me that I am looking at a representation of the tumpal motif.

Has anybody thought to investigate this?

Hi Alan,

I want to bring your earlier comment back up because nobody really replied to your question. Lots of comments about the "bling" but nothing in regard to your suggestion of a tumpal motif, which makes sense to me.

21st August 2019, 11:52 AM	#4
Loedjoe Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Oxford (UK) Posts: 96	Is this a double or a triple crown? This sikin panjang (length 74.3 cm, blade 57 cm., no scabbard) has an unusual 'third' crown above a normal double crown. Has anyone seen a similar addition above the usual crown? And what was the purpose of it - to make a double crown into a triple one? Any comments from the experts would be most welcome. Attached Images

3rd November 2019, 06:31 AM	#7
thomas hauschild Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Germany Posts: 141	Asomotif asked me to show the crown on a sikin parang of my collection. Not with gold inlay. Made of bronce maybe (or hopefully) made of souasa. Best thomas Attached Images Last edited by thomas hauschild; 3rd November 2019 at 07:04 AM.

8th June 2019, 04:00 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I think you are right Detlef. As I re-examined the pictures, the material does look like makassar ebony at best (and purposely burned wood at the worst). Almost makes me wonder if this was a replacement for broken akhar bahar or ivory.

8th June 2019, 10:17 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	We really have to keep in mind that the most precious timbers can be more expensive and rarer than ivory or gold. In the good ol' days, the latter could be easily sourced if you had any decent amount of funds. Special wood like burl, especially with strong chatoyance, correct grain for carving, and possibly extra features needed to be searched for, cured for extended periods, and correctly selected by experienced artisans for the very task - it often wasn't at hand at the whim of the customer. If this hilt is antique, the selection of materials wasn't spurious... I can't tell this wood from the pics. It seems to have rather large pores for any type of ebony. It might be one of the rarer hardwoods - tough to tell from pics! Regards, Kai

8th June 2019, 10:21 PM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Tim asked me to extend thanks to all who responded! He seems to have problems with logging in and I hope he'll be back soon. Regards, Kai

22nd August 2019, 10:15 PM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Tim, Good to have you back! I’d vote for 2.5. The general crown type is of the glupa configuration (2 crowns), with an added ferrule-like ring as is also seen on a few rencong. I reckon this is an original design. A nice addition to the family! Regards, Kai

22nd August 2019, 10:46 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	This thread has been running for quite some time, but I have never looked at it previously. When I look at these "crowns", it strikes me that I am looking at a representation of the tumpal motif. Has anybody thought to investigate this?