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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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Many of you know that I am fascinated by "cross-cultural" pieces, especially those showing characteristics of different aspects of weaponry from the far reaches of the Islamic world.
This is one of the most interesting ones I have found in some time. It is an Indonesian parang, likely from Java, made with an Ottoman yataghan blade!!! I have to imagine that this is for a person of status. Originally the blade was washed in the traditional Indo-Malay manner with arsenic, which in this case had actually done some damage to the blade, which is why I removed it, for a less corrosive etchant. The characteristics of the yataghan blade are quite clear, with a a raised false bolster that would likely have been covered on a traditional yat, and cartouches to both sides of the blade. The fittings are of excellent quality in a decent grade of silver, and very finely worked. The chape's tip has a very Indian look about it. There is an inscription to the top for the guard, and I am wondering if anyone can make out the language and message???? Thanks for any help in that regard. For a person of status a sword blade from so far away must have seemed quite exotic, and while a recurved yat blade is not too far removed from an Indonesian tusuk style, its shape would have been right at home in the Indonesian arsenal. Input and comments welcomed. |
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