Balato

[henri]

Last one brought into my luggages last week .

Not cleaned yet but probably recent .Difficult to estimate age .... Ball is a new one made in wood but interesting hilt.
Any comments always welcomed !

Henri

[Nagawarrior]

I like henri. As I understand it, most of these are recent. The old ones from the Headhunting times(pre-1887) are very rare indeed. Some concider the old ones the only "real" swords, all other are tourist. Do a forum search and see what I mean, not a pretty picture in some cases. Mine is my Wife's favorite sword in my collection, whether its old or not, its pretty. Its all in the eye of the beholder.

[asomotif]

Hello Henri,

Although the ball has wooden teeth the whole ensemble looks original and the patina does not look fake to me.
So this may be a post WW2 example for ceremonial use

For the right price I would not mind to bump into one of these.
Sad enough to often such items are presented as antique at a too high price.

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by henri

Last one brought into my luggages last week .

Not cleaned yet but probably recent .Difficult to estimate age .... Ball is a new one made in wood but interesting hilt.
Any comments always welcomed !

Henri

Hi Henry,

Your balato looks to me as a post WW2 piece but seems to be good carved with some style variations typical for that time.
I think its a piece from the 70's or so with less patina and what they sadly did was adding a black ugly patina to make it look older ( so more expensive)
I think they did that by painting and burning( the wet paint), it looks a little crusty.

however I mostly don't advice to clean old weaponery I think the piece will look much better if you clean the hilt very carefully with steelwool.

regards Arjan

[Battara]

Originally Posted by mandaukudi

I think they did that by painting and burning( the wet paint), it looks a little crusty.

however I mostly don't advice to clean old weaponery I think the piece will look much better if you clean the hilt very carefully with steelwool.

What about the ball of "tusks" on the scabbard?

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by Battara

What about the ball of "tusks" on the scabbard?

if it was my sword I should remove the ball completely or remove the wooden tusks ( carefully ) and try to hunt for some real tusks on ebay or so.

wooden tusks wheren't used on Nias, the reason why they added tusks on the ball was by the ideas of animistic belief to load up the sword ( or actually the ball) with power as teeth,horns etc are fastgrowers.
it shouldn't have not any sense to add wooden replica's

in original old charmsballs the tusks are often elongated with wooden pegs to make them round around the ball. ( I will see if I can find a pic)

Arjan

[Battara]

Thank you. Did not realize they were wooden.

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by mandaukudi

if it was my sword I should remove the ball completely or remove the wooden tusks ( carefully ) and try to hunt for some real tusks on ebay or so.

Hi Arjan,
It is on scarce occasions that we differ

But is this case I would advise not to alter the ball.
It is a mid 20th century balato that was either made for ceremonial dancing or maybe as a tourist item.
But it is not an old pre 1900 headhunters sword.
So why change the balato into an old (pre 1900) sword which it simply is not.

[henri]

Thank you all for your feed backs . Still this dilemma : change / alter or not change the ball ? I could easily find here boar tusks and replace just the wooden tusks . Will look better for sure ...but still not an old one . Anyway it s always a compromise !

Cheers

Henri

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hi Arjan,
It is on scarce occasions that we differ

But is this case I would advise not to alter the ball.
It is a mid 20th century balato that was either made for ceremonial dancing or maybe as a tourist item.
But it is not an old pre 1900 headhunters sword.
So why change the balato into an old (pre 1900) sword which it simply is not.

Willem, it was not the intension to "alter" the piece and its also not the case that "only" the pre 1900 headhuntersswords has real tusk charmballs.
also after the WW2 we see "warriors" on Nias walking around with tusks charmballs. Its more that I have strongly the idea that such balls are added on Bali to sell them as complete sword.
than it should be more ethographical correct to add real tusks than let the "Bali ball"" where it is now, I think.
But of course if you want to see the sword in its original state you shouldn't add anything.

Arjan