Parang Nabur

semar · 26th November 2008, 01:17 PM

Parang nabur for comment
Who can tell me more about this parang nabur
and the inscriptions

thank you

VVV · 26th November 2008, 03:32 PM

Yours is a very nice, and quite rare, variation of the Beladah Belabang (aka "Parang Nabur" nowadays among collectors outside the culture).
It was used by the coastal Malays of Southeast Borneo, usually found around the Banjarmasin and Negara area.
Sometimes they also show up as regalia in other Malay areas.
They don't have anything to do with either Sea-dayak or any other kind of dayak-tribe.
The square is quite common on Malay weapons from south Borneo.
Yours is related to the Islamic magic square, wafq, where the numeric value of the arabic letters in all directions are the same.
This value represents a "hidden" name. Like the most common one is the Buduh (3 x 3) also known as Adam's seal.
The 4 x 4 is Plato's seal etc...
There is a lot of symbolism within the squares and by itself it also has baraka, "the Force".

Michael

semar · 26th November 2008, 05:05 PM

thank you for your info michael

Battara · 26th November 2008, 11:14 PM

An unusual form of this type. I love the silver work.

Maurice · 27th November 2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semar

Who can tell me more about this parang nabur
and the inscriptions

Hi Hans,

Don,t believe everybody. It is just a piece of iron.
I am coming next week to look to this strange metal thing. I will do you a favour and take it with me than you can be happy to get rid of it without doing any effort (oh yeah, I will take the other nabur of yours also with me, you don,t have to pay me).

I,ll give you a call!

Regards,
Maurice

CharlesS · 27th November 2008, 08:03 PM

Here are a couple more examples from my collection. At first glance they look like twins, but the hilts and blades are quite different. One has the 'wafq' and the other does not.

You may also enjoy the old photo with an example of one among Moro blades. This example is attributed to the Moro Sultan of Sulu, which compliments my interest in cross cultural items. Obviously the Sultan thought it held up well in comparisons to pieces form his own culture.

Neither of my examples is the one in the old photo.

asomotif · 27th November 2008, 11:35 PM

Amazing pieces Charles,

they must have been made on the same location / same maker maybe

Hans, yours is very nice too by the way.

And all these 3 have blades that are much more elagant than the average parang nabur.

Battara · 28th November 2008, 01:47 AM

The okir on these seems similar to Moro okir design more than typical Indonesian okir designs. It makes sense that these are off Southeast Borneo, an area of Indonesian and Moro contacts.

VVV · 28th November 2008, 04:25 PM

Beautiful BBs Charles!

And the one with wafq seems to have a "real" buduh too, which is unusual IMO.

Michael

26th November 2008, 01:17 PM	#1
semar Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 272	Parang Nabur Parang nabur for comment Who can tell me more about this parang nabur and the inscriptions thank you Attached Images

27th November 2008, 08:03 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Here are a couple more examples from my collection. At first glance they look like twins, but the hilts and blades are quite different. One has the 'wafq' and the other does not. You may also enjoy the old photo with an example of one among Moro blades. This example is attributed to the Moro Sultan of Sulu, which compliments my interest in cross cultural items. Obviously the Sultan thought it held up well in comparisons to pieces form his own culture. Neither of my examples is the one in the old photo. Attached Images

26th November 2008, 03:32 PM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Yours is a very nice, and quite rare, variation of the Beladah Belabang (aka "Parang Nabur" nowadays among collectors outside the culture). It was used by the coastal Malays of Southeast Borneo, usually found around the Banjarmasin and Negara area. Sometimes they also show up as regalia in other Malay areas. They don't have anything to do with either Sea-dayak or any other kind of dayak-tribe. The square is quite common on Malay weapons from south Borneo. Yours is related to the Islamic magic square, wafq, where the numeric value of the arabic letters in all directions are the same. This value represents a "hidden" name. Like the most common one is the Buduh (3 x 3) also known as Adam's seal. The 4 x 4 is Plato's seal etc... There is a lot of symbolism within the squares and by itself it also has baraka, "the Force". Michael

26th November 2008, 05:05 PM	#3
semar Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 272	thank you for your info michael

26th November 2008, 11:14 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	An unusual form of this type. I love the silver work.

27th November 2008, 11:35 PM	#7
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Amazing pieces Charles, they must have been made on the same location / same maker maybe Hans, yours is very nice too by the way. And all these 3 have blades that are much more elagant than the average parang nabur.

28th November 2008, 01:47 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	The okir on these seems similar to Moro okir design more than typical Indonesian okir designs. It makes sense that these are off Southeast Borneo, an area of Indonesian and Moro contacts.

28th November 2008, 04:25 PM	#9
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Beautiful BBs Charles! And the one with wafq seems to have a "real" buduh too, which is unusual IMO. Michael