Small Nias collection.
 

At a sudden I ran into some Nias pieces.
Two status lances (from the same collection) and an old balato with original ratan ball. (amulets gone unfortunately, but hey.....I don't care). ;-)

WOW
 

A beautiful and rare grouping/find Maurice...steering away from Borneo perhaps :-)))
The Balato is in super fine conditon too...could you please share an image of it out of the sheath.
You know how much I love spears too.....please show more!!!!!

Gav

Indeed very nice Nias items; quality! By the way, I would not bother the 'so-called missing amulates' as I think they have never been on there! Fabtastic patine also.
Congrats

Congrats, Maurice!

I like the understatement expressed by the balato pommel. I'm with Gav - more pics of all pieces, please!

:)
Kai

Thanks Gav,

Never steering away from Borneo, but my interests in some "outside" Borneo areas are growing by the minute. :)
The balato is indeed in a very good condition. No damages or missing chips whatsoever, only 4 ratan bands around the scabbard are missing.
It has a nice old patina allover, and especially the handle shows glossy patina of handling.
Here some images of the balato out of the scabbard and a better image of the ratan ball.

Maurice

Thanks Kai,

Yes I like the expression of the pommel also very much.
Especially that little scroll on the top.
I've seen this version sometimes on old images/collections, but than the two protrusions are both equally long, not with one shorter little curl....

Maurice

Here some images of both lances.
The wooden shaft butts of both lances have a metal point.
Only one has a lot of ratan bands (more than 100) around the wooden shaft.

new icon
 

Thank you Maurice, very nice indeed....the forum now needs sound and a wolf whistle icon, these are some exotic lookers seldom seen or discussed.
I am looking forward to sitting back and learning some more about these in particular about the lances as I like 'em long.

Gav

Thank you!
I'm not bothered about the missing charms.
It seemed that Nias people didn't bother to give away/sell their sword, but the balls with idols and charms where taken off before.

Hi Maurice,

nice grab of three rare outstanding pieces. :eek:

Regards,

Detlef

Very nice pieces Maurice. I really love the elegant spears.

Since no one else has asked i guess i will. Why do you believe that there were never any "amulets" contained within the ball of this sheath?

Congratulations Maurice,

It looks like a beautiful patina on all 3 and the hilt is very unusual.

Michael

Oh my goodness, that Balato is breathtaking. It steals the show in that small Nias grouping. Well done! How'd you end up with these?

Maurice,

I'm looking a little bit green. But i'm sure i'm not the only one here and in the area where you live. Congrats, breathtaking!! :eek:

at a sudden...
 

do you perhaps mean to say that you found these on april 30th???!!! They are really beautifull, congrats!

Greetings Ron

Nice balato Maurice.
Nice spears too.

Rattan ball looks great and original to me.
Are there signs that amulets have been attached in the past ?

Very nice items Maurice.
Beautiful colors and patin on the ratan bands.

The Balato is great!!!

Thank you all for your comments!

The patina indeed is beautifull and I can't see any evidence that amulets were attached at the ball. They could also be kept inside the ball....
Both ways were possible.

Maurice

meaning of Balato
 

Hi all,

I am just wondering.. what is the meaning to the term "Balato"?

Maurice, I cannot believe that I missed this when you first posted these. What absolutely beautiful pieces and in such pristine condition.:eek: My very envious congratulations to you on being able to acquire three such wonderful items for your collection.

Robert

Hi Shah,

The meaning of the term "Ballátu" according Elio Modigliani means "knife".

Thank you Robert,

But not that pristine, cause one "toho" unfortunately misses all the ratan bands....

Maurice

I'm with Charles - love the spears especially. :)

CONGRADULATIONS!! THE FORCE WAS WITH YOU WHEN YOU FOUND THESE :D
I LIKE ALL THREE ITEMS BUT THE SPEARS ARE A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO COME BY AND THESE ARE FULL LEGNTH , COMPLETE AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION NOT TO MENTION BEAUTIFUL AND FLAMBOYANT IN FORM.

MOST COLLECTORS CAN ONLY DREAM OF FINDING THREE SUCH EXAMPLES AND IF FOUND FEW CAN AFFORD THEM SO IF THE PRICE WAS GOOD DO A FEW MORE STEPS OF YOUR HAPPY DANCE :D .

Thanks Maurice.. :)