Rentjong: What area???

Maurice · 16th June 2010, 05:21 PM

Here is one of my latest gain.

Does anybody knows what area this one could be?
Atjeh? Gajo? It seems to be hard because the appearance of this one isn't clearly Atjeh or clearly Gajo!

The handle is hippo ivory with a suassa ferrule.

Thanks in advance!
Maurice

Maurice · 16th June 2010, 05:22 PM

Oh, the scabbard by the way is not the original one, but fits perfect!

Sajen · 16th June 2010, 08:06 PM

Hi Maurice,

I don't have a clue from where it is but it is very very nice!

chregu · 16th June 2010, 09:14 PM

hi maurice

Do I have almost the same! have no idea where it comes from.

Gavin Nugent · 16th June 2010, 10:44 PM

I've got one too Maurice, it came with the Kelling Hall collection;

http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s182_full.html

I look forward to hearing what the Sumatran experts say but my feeling is Atjeh based on the majority of the Collection only.

You are certainly putting together a nice collection.

Gav

kai · 17th June 2010, 08:57 AM

Nice one, Maurice!

All 3 examples seem to be hulu puntung variations.

Gavin's piece almost resembles the hulu dandan style. Blade is apparently heavily worn - tough to place this one; the nice scabbard looks fairly typical and I'd guess it's from Aceh if none of the inked motifs suggests otherwise.

Christoph's piece looks odd and the scabbard seems to be a later replacement. I'd really like to see this blade cleaned and lightly stained to bring out the laminations - if it's really antique, I'd believe that the rather stubby blade shape might suggest a Gayo origin. The hilt is also odd but doesn't look like one of those recent oddities fabricated on Java/Madura/Bali...

Maurice's piece is obviously antique and unique. While a status piece, I believe it's original owner was not too affluent: the workmanship of the suasa ferrule is pretty basic and IMHO the hilt suggests that the shape was influenced by the (limited) chunk of ivory available to the craftsman. Thus, I'm not sure we can glean much on it's origin from these features except that it probably doesn't came from any center of power. However, the scabbard this piece had with it is one of the most flaboyant wooden examples I've seen! If really original to this rencong it might indeed point to a Gayo origin...

Maybe Erik can post some pics of the scabbard here?

Regards,
Kai

16th June 2010, 05:21 PM	#1
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,324	Rentjong: What area??? Here is one of my latest gain. Does anybody knows what area this one could be? Atjeh? Gajo? It seems to be hard because the appearance of this one isn't clearly Atjeh or clearly Gajo! The handle is hippo ivory with a suassa ferrule. Thanks in advance! Maurice Attached Images

16th June 2010, 09:14 PM	#4
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	hi maurice Do I have almost the same! have no idea where it comes from. Attached Images

16th June 2010, 10:44 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Me too I've got one too Maurice, it came with the Kelling Hall collection; http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s182_full.html I look forward to hearing what the Sumatran experts say but my feeling is Atjeh based on the majority of the Collection only. You are certainly putting together a nice collection. Gav

16th June 2010, 05:22 PM	#2
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,324	Oh, the scabbard by the way is not the original one, but fits perfect!

16th June 2010, 08:06 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,629	Hi Maurice, I don't have a clue from where it is but it is very very nice!

17th June 2010, 08:57 AM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,246	Nice one, Maurice! All 3 examples seem to be hulu puntung variations. Gavin's piece almost resembles the hulu dandan style. Blade is apparently heavily worn - tough to place this one; the nice scabbard looks fairly typical and I'd guess it's from Aceh if none of the inked motifs suggests otherwise. Christoph's piece looks odd and the scabbard seems to be a later replacement. I'd really like to see this blade cleaned and lightly stained to bring out the laminations - if it's really antique, I'd believe that the rather stubby blade shape might suggest a Gayo origin. The hilt is also odd but doesn't look like one of those recent oddities fabricated on Java/Madura/Bali... Maurice's piece is obviously antique and unique. While a status piece, I believe it's original owner was not too affluent: the workmanship of the suasa ferrule is pretty basic and IMHO the hilt suggests that the shape was influenced by the (limited) chunk of ivory available to the craftsman. Thus, I'm not sure we can glean much on it's origin from these features except that it probably doesn't came from any center of power. However, the scabbard this piece had with it is one of the most flaboyant wooden examples I've seen! If really original to this rencong it might indeed point to a Gayo origin... Maybe Erik can post some pics of the scabbard here? Regards, Kai