Peudeueng peusangan from Aceh

Peter Dekker · 10th January 2016, 06:27 PM

Hello guys,

Something I wanted to share with you. A Sumatran saber from the Aceh region, described locally as peudeueng peusangan with a "hulu meu apet" Indian styled basket hilt. This particular one has some condition issues, but it makes up for some of that with its rather spectacular grip covered with an intricate basket pattern of pale gold colored wire, I'm guessing brass.

It seems to have a western import blade. It is relatively thin and springy, with three fullers and a false backedge. There is a marking on the base that looks British to me. If so, I wonder whether it is from the time that the British East India Company was still present in Aceh.

Thoughts / comments very welcome!

Maurice · 10th January 2016, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Dekker

Hello guys,

Something I wanted to share with you. A Sumatran saber from the Aceh region, described locally as peudeueng peusangan with a "hulu meu apet" Indian styled basket hilt. This particular one has some condition issues, but it makes up for some of that with its rather spectacular grip covered with an intricate basket pattern of pale gold colored wire, I'm guessing brass.

It seems to have a western import blade. It is relatively thin and springy, with three fullers and a false backedge. There is a marking on the base that looks British to me. If so, I wonder whether it is from the time that the British East India Company was still present in Aceh.

Thoughts / comments very welcome!

A nice peudeueng Peter!

The wire probably is gilded silver (the one I owned had the same).
A pity the precious golden top with enamel and stones is missing.

Also blades with mark is something I have seen (and owned) before.
It was also a peudeueng.
The museum in Leiden also has one with a similar mark on the blade, and is also written about in the catalogue.

Find more in this old thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=warranted

Kind regards,
Maurice

Battara · 11th January 2016, 03:19 AM

Congratulations Peter! I agree with Maurice.

It is either gilded silver or perhaps a silver/gold alloy (I have a Moro barong and a Aceh rencong with this type of alloy).

Peter Dekker · 13th January 2016, 02:24 PM

Thanks much, guys. Very helpful! Interesting to see that there are quite a few around with similar markings.

Quote:

A pity the precious golden top with enamel and stones is missing.

A pity indeed! Do you happen to have any example of what that may have looked like?

I'm thinking the wire wrap is made out of a silver-gold alloy rather than a plating, because it seems quite solid also after cleaning. It was black when I got it, similar to what you'd expect to find on old silver.

Peter

Maurice · 13th January 2016, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Dekker

Do you happen to have any example of what that may have looked like?

Peter

Here a (bad) photo of the top of a peudeueng which once was in my private collection, and now in a good friends collection.

Maurice

Maurice · 13th January 2016, 08:17 PM

Here the best I have ever seen, and in the Bronbeek museum collection.
Lots of gold, and belonged to teuku Umar.

asomotif · 13th January 2016, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Dekker

I'm thinking the wire wrap is made out of a silver-gold alloy rather than a plating, because it seems quite solid also after cleaning. It was black when I got it, similar to what you'd expect to find on old silver.

Peter

Hello Peter,

Nice example. specially with this gold alloy wire.

I agree that it must be some alloy. Gilded would not last so long on a hilt wrapping imo.

Best regards,
Willem

Peter Dekker · 13th January 2016, 11:26 PM

Thanks for the additional pics! The one you had looks beautiful.

On a recent trip to Indonesia I encountered this one in their national museum. That one was not too shabby, either, and resembles the work on the one you used to have.

Unfortunately the cabinet seemed tightly secured and I didn't have a bag big enough to conceal it anyway so I just made some pics and left without breaking any laws.

See pics below.

Looking at mine, I wonder if it had something at the pommel like that. It could have been, as the plate I see now is not decorated like the rest of the hilt, and may have once been covered with something else.

Roland_M · 13th January 2016, 03:02 PM

Congratulations, a very beautiful saber.

In the last picture I can see laminations (below the warranty inscription), so i think it is either laminated mono steel or pattern welded steel.

Maybe the blade is from Asia and was proved and tested in Europe or from an European company in Asia or so.

Roland

10th January 2016, 06:27 PM	#1
Peter Dekker Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kingdom of the Netherlands Posts: 63	Peudeueng peusangan from Aceh Hello guys, Something I wanted to share with you. A Sumatran saber from the Aceh region, described locally as peudeueng peusangan with a "hulu meu apet" Indian styled basket hilt. This particular one has some condition issues, but it makes up for some of that with its rather spectacular grip covered with an intricate basket pattern of pale gold colored wire, I'm guessing brass. It seems to have a western import blade. It is relatively thin and springy, with three fullers and a false backedge. There is a marking on the base that looks British to me. If so, I wonder whether it is from the time that the British East India Company was still present in Aceh. Thoughts / comments very welcome! Attached Images Last edited by Peter Dekker; 10th January 2016 at 06:33 PM. Reason: Attachments didn't load

13th January 2016, 08:17 PM	#6
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	Here the best I have ever seen, and in the Bronbeek museum collection. Lots of gold, and belonged to teuku Umar. Attached Images

13th January 2016, 11:26 PM	#8
Peter Dekker Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kingdom of the Netherlands Posts: 63	Thanks for the additional pics! The one you had looks beautiful. On a recent trip to Indonesia I encountered this one in their national museum. That one was not too shabby, either, and resembles the work on the one you used to have. Unfortunately the cabinet seemed tightly secured and I didn't have a bag big enough to conceal it anyway so I just made some pics and left without breaking any laws. See pics below. Looking at mine, I wonder if it had something at the pommel like that. It could have been, as the plate I see now is not decorated like the rest of the hilt, and may have once been covered with something else. Attached Images

13th January 2016, 03:02 PM	#9
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 525	Congratulations, a very beautiful saber. In the last picture I can see laminations (below the warranty inscription), so i think it is either laminated mono steel or pattern welded steel. Maybe the blade is from Asia and was proved and tested in Europe or from an European company in Asia or so. Roland Attached Images

11th January 2016, 03:19 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Congratulations Peter! I agree with Maurice. It is either gilded silver or perhaps a silver/gold alloy (I have a Moro barong and a Aceh rencong with this type of alloy).