Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1101 - Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt & Scabbard Mouth

The forward curving (concave) blade has a widened back and measures 11¼ inches (28.7 cm) in length. The blade surfaces are fairly dark with darker patches and scattered light pitting. There is a copper alloy bolster that extends as an inlay onto the base of the spine of the blade. The bulbous hilt is made of dark water buffalo horn that has been very proficiently carved in a floral motif. There are a few old narrow cracks in the horn and an inconspicuous defect that may represent either insect damage or a tiny defect in the material. The knife measures 14¾ inches (37.4 cm) in length with a weight of 7¼ ounces (207 grams). The accompanying wooden scabbard has a mouth chape of the same dark horn with the typical protrusion toward the concave side (cangge) being carved en suite with the hilt. The sparsely carved scabbard has a glossy finish and is composed of two halves secured together by rattan bands and small pins; there are a few minor cracks and old chips. Within the scabbard, the overall length is 15¼ inches (38.9 cm) with a weight of 10 ounces (287 grams).


Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt cangge

Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt cangge

Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt cangge

Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt cangge

Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt cangge

Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt

Sumatran Sewar with Floral Carved Horn Hilt cangge



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