Help With Spear Indentification....Burmese? Thai? Malay? Indonesian?

CharlesS · 25th January 2012, 09:59 PM

Hey is a nice spear I just picked up. My first thoughts from the pics I had seen were that it was Indonesian, but with it in hand I am not so sure. The blade is huge, almost 3 inches wide at the widest point. Note the blade has a design throughout the fullers, and features a smallish brass ferrule with designs. This spear is almost 8ft. long and has a simple iron toe.

Any ideas???

....I'd be most grateful for any input.

Rick · 25th January 2012, 11:47 PM

Hi Charles, the fullering reminds me very much of forms found in the keris .
The blade of this spear reminds me a bit of a keris buda; so I think Indonesian is not out of the question .

The decoration within the fullers is the curve ball for me; it seems un-Javanese to me, at least .

I wonder, could it be from Bali ???

Battara · 26th January 2012, 12:40 AM

I'm with Rick on the Indonesian attribution. The chasing work on the ferrule looks Indonesian to me.

What is this spear fetish?

(How can I get in on it....

)

VVV · 26th January 2012, 07:42 AM

Nice catch (as always from you).
Please also enclose a close up of the fuller motif.
From a distance it resembles a Dayak motif.

Michael

CharlesS · 26th January 2012, 12:41 PM

Hope this helps...

VVV · 26th January 2012, 01:23 PM

Nice,

Here is the Dayak scroll motif I had in mind (lower part, from Nieuwenhuis' Quer Durch Borneo).
And below is one of my Borneo spears that also has a resembling motif like yours.
Yours seem to be a variation of the half tumpal (full tumpal is the center motif at the right, 3/12 if using the clock system)

Michael

asomotif · 26th January 2012, 11:04 PM

Nice catch.

General shape and decoration indicate Borneo.
But a rather sofisticated malay area.
Can we see a close up of the ferrule ?

Best regards,
Willem

CharlesS · 27th January 2012, 10:20 PM

Here are two more photos that may help. I can certainly see the Borneo connection in the fullers from VVV's picture (...and thanks!)

The ferrule is very abstract...perhaps again pointing to Borneo...there seems to be a naga(perhaps???)

incorporated into the design. You can see the "scales".

Maurice · 28th January 2012, 04:47 PM

Nice catch Charles!

A Beautifull Lance...

Rg,
Maurice

Maurice · 28th January 2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

below is one of my Borneo spears that also has a resembling motif like yours.

Incredible beautifull piece Michael with the krowits and the chiseled motifs. Can't get enough of it....

Rg,
Maurice

Maurice · 28th January 2012, 05:01 PM

Remember this one?

Found it in an book of 1896.
The lower one is very similar as Michael's ,with the chiseled decoration and the krowits.
PS both lances are from the Kayan tribe around the Baram area (Sarawak) according this old book.

Sorry for the bad image.
Hope this helps a little Charles....
Maurice

25th January 2012, 09:59 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Help With Spear Indentification....Burmese? Thai? Malay? Indonesian? Hey is a nice spear I just picked up. My first thoughts from the pics I had seen were that it was Indonesian, but with it in hand I am not so sure. The blade is huge, almost 3 inches wide at the widest point. Note the blade has a design throughout the fullers, and features a smallish brass ferrule with designs. This spear is almost 8ft. long and has a simple iron toe. Any ideas??? ....I'd be most grateful for any input. Attached Images

25th January 2012, 11:47 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,291	Speculation Hi Charles, the fullering reminds me very much of forms found in the keris . The blade of this spear reminds me a bit of a keris buda; so I think Indonesian is not out of the question . The decoration within the fullers is the curve ball for me; it seems un-Javanese to me, at least . I wonder, could it be from Bali ??? Last edited by Rick; 25th January 2012 at 11:59 PM.

26th January 2012, 12:41 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Hope this helps... Attached Images

26th January 2012, 01:23 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice, Here is the Dayak scroll motif I had in mind (lower part, from Nieuwenhuis' Quer Durch Borneo). And below is one of my Borneo spears that also has a resembling motif like yours. Yours seem to be a variation of the half tumpal (full tumpal is the center motif at the right, 3/12 if using the clock system) Michael Attached Images

27th January 2012, 10:20 PM	#8
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Here are two more photos that may help. I can certainly see the Borneo connection in the fullers from VVV's picture (...and thanks!) The ferrule is very abstract...perhaps again pointing to Borneo...there seems to be a naga(perhaps???) incorporated into the design. You can see the "scales". Attached Images

26th January 2012, 12:40 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	I'm with Rick on the Indonesian attribution. The chasing work on the ferrule looks Indonesian to me. What is this spear fetish? (How can I get in on it.... )

26th January 2012, 07:42 AM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice catch (as always from you). Please also enclose a close up of the fuller motif. From a distance it resembles a Dayak motif. Michael

26th January 2012, 11:04 PM	#7
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice catch. General shape and decoration indicate Borneo. But a rather sofisticated malay area. Can we see a close up of the ferrule ? Best regards, Willem

28th January 2012, 04:47 PM	#9
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,342	Nice catch Charles! A Beautifull Lance... Rg, Maurice

28th January 2012, 05:01 PM	#11
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,342	Remember this one? Found it in an book of 1896. The lower one is very similar as Michael's ,with the chiseled decoration and the krowits. PS both lances are from the Kayan tribe around the Baram area (Sarawak) according this old book. Sorry for the bad image. Hope this helps a little Charles.... Maurice Attached Images