Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 14th October 2008, 04:16 AM   #1
ferrylaki
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 285
Default VOC mark on a sword ( is this real? )

hello...
I found this mark on a local dressed sword.
any idea about the VOC mark?
the blade is thick and very light.

ferrylaki
jakarta
Attached Images
  
ferrylaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th October 2008, 06:27 AM   #2
kahnjar1
Member
 
kahnjar1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,739
Default

Although not my particular field of knowledge, I can say that the sword in question is a Pedang from Indonesia, which was a Dutch Colony. The blade LOOKS to be untypical of the Pedang in that it is fullered, and could well be a Dutch blade mounted in the "native" way. The stamping looks to me to be the real deal.
One of our many collectors in this field will be able to confirm this info I hope.
kahnjar1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th October 2008, 06:50 AM   #3
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
Default

Thats a beauty Ferrylaki! and as noted a pedang....but what is best is that the blade appears to be authentic VOC, and the date is typically inscribed in this way as well. These are incredibly hard to find these days, and the ones I have seen are usually marked with these 18th century dates, 1759, 1769 etc. The VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) seems correct in form also. Check coin references for Dutch East Indies and you will see this exact configuration.

The Dutch East India Company organization consisted of six 'kamers' (chambers) in port cities in the Netherlands which were; Amsterdam, Delft, Rotterdam, Enkhuizen, Middleburg and Hoorn. Property, including sword blades in this case, had a VOC mark with a letter denoting the chamber assigned......in the case of this blade it would be of course Delft.


I have always been curious why the dating on these blades seems consistantly in this range of the 18th century, the same Dutch blades are commonly found on Sinhalese kastanes as well. It is interesting that the commercial conflicts between the trade companies of the major powers were intensifying in these regions during these times, and there were major internal conflicts within the company. It was dissolved in 1800.

Excellent find!!!
All best regards,
Jim

Last edited by Jim McDougall; 15th October 2008 at 03:54 AM.
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th October 2008, 09:04 AM   #4
ferrylaki
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 285
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
Thats a beauty Ferrylaki! and as noted a pedang....but what is best is that the blade appears to be authentic VOC, and the date is typically inscribed in this way as well. These are incredibly hard to find these days, and the ones I have seen are usually marked with these 18th century dates, 1759, 1769 etc. The VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) seems correct in form also. Check coin references for Dutch East Indies and you will see this exact configuration.

The Dutch East India Company organization consists of six 'kamers' (chambers) in port cities in the Netherlands which were; Amsterdam, Delft, Rotterdam, Enkhuizen, Middleburg and Hoorn. Property, including sword blades in this case, had a VOC mark with a letter denoting the chamber assigned......in the case of this blade it would be of course Delft.


I have always been curious why the dating on these blades seems consistantly in this range of the 18th century, the same Dutch blades are commonly found on Sinhalese kastanes as well. It is interesting that the commercial conflicts between the trade companies of the major powers were intensifying in these regions during these times, and there were major internal conflicts within the company. It was dissolved in 1800.

Excellent find!!!
All best regards,
Jim

Thanks Jim,
I've been searching for VOC sword for three years, but most of them are no longer in one piece ( just like this sword).
this VOC blade is the best example that I ever met.
It's not mine yet. there's a little bit doubt with the marking.
I found it in Surabaya Street, Jakarta Indonesia while I was looking for a hembrug Klewang ( and some antique radio ).
I really wonder how is exactly the Complete VOC sword looks like?
any of you guys having the picture of this VOC sword?
that would help me alot.

regards,
FERRYLAKI
JAKARTA INDONESIA
ferrylaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th October 2008, 11:51 AM   #5
asomotif
Member
 
asomotif's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
Default

Dear Ferrylaki,

A lot of blades where shipped to the Far east unmounted for trading purposes.
It is not uncommon to see them mounted in indonesian style.
I must say that I find it difficult to say if markings are real.

I believe there has been another thread discussing the original form of VOC swords. Maybe you can find it in the search function.


Best regards,
Willem
asomotif is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.