Malay parang ID please

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

I'd love to get more input from our Thai forumites wether the Thai names may be possibly descriptive only, specious, modern adaptations, or real old names (surely, the Malay and Thai interacted in this region for quite a while).

Hello Kai,

Yes, you are correct, there was and is a overlapping influence in this region. Please have a look to the both swords in complete up, both handles are lacquered, a typical "Siam" style and not very common in the Malay regions. So why shall there not a Thai name for this weapons when they seems to have been used also by Buddhist people?

PS: mail you tomorrow!

Regards,
Detlef

[kai]

Thanks, Detlef - take your time!

I assume you refer to the 2 phra-o in your friend‘s pic? Yes, these hilts seem lacquered (as are Ian‘s pieces, too) while the 4 mit deng apparently are not lacquered.

Surface treatment of wood with resin is documented for Malay artisans (cp. Power of Wood) and looks similar to shellac. Also lacquer-like dragon blood is utilized even if more on pommel and scabbard rather than the gripping area.

While it certainly is a possibility, I‘m not yet convinced that such a treatment clearly indicates any Thai origin. Excluding later modifications, it could also hint to a more ceremonial use as opposed to working pieces.

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

I assume you refer to the 2 phra-o in your friend‘s pic? Yes, these hilts seem lacquered (as are Ian‘s pieces, too) while the 4 mit deng apparently are not lacquered.

Surface treatment of wood with resin is documented for Malay artisans (cp. Power of Wood) and looks similar to shellac. Also lacquer-like dragon blood is utilized even if more on pommel and scabbard rather than the gripping area.

While it certainly is a possibility, I‘m not yet convinced that such a treatment clearly indicates any Thai origin. Excluding later modifications, it could also hint to a more ceremonial use as opposed to working pieces.

Hello Kai,

Yes, I refer to the two pieces in up.

Please compare with a Thai enep from my collection. I really think that this is Thai work on both pieces.

Regards,
Detlef