Piso Sanalenggam with unusual hilt

VVV · 28th August 2008, 04:57 PM

I found this Piso S some weeks ago.
What's unusual is that it has a red-painted hilt, instead of the usual plain black horn hilt.
I have checked the Dutch museum picture archives but haven't found any other Piso S like this.
Does anybody of the forumites have any Batak blades, or other artefacts, with a similar painting of the motifs?

Michael

Dajak · 28th August 2008, 06:37 PM

Hi Michael an nice one rare motif on the handle don't look Islamic motief

Ben

Marcokeris · 28th August 2008, 08:22 PM

Michel if i have one like this

surely i would be a very very happy man

kino · 29th August 2008, 04:20 AM

What a beauty. I really like the wire wrap around the ferrule and the carvings on the scabbard.

VVV · 29th August 2008, 07:00 AM

Thanks all,

Any input on the red-coloured hilt?

Michael

Marcokeris · 29th August 2008, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Thanks all,

Any input on the red-coloured hilt?

Michael

Michael i can suppose that the colours are rather same to the colours that Batak people use to paint their out-house decoration panels and lions (singa)sculptures. Also the chain pattern can be a batak motiv.
About batak... There is a very very beautiful new book about their art. The name is "Batak sculptures". Thios book is completely full of awesome photos never seen (also weapon's pictures!!)

Bill M · 29th August 2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

Michael i can suppose that the colours are rather same to the colours that Batak people use to paint their out-house decoration panels and lions (singa)sculptures. Also the chain pattern can be a batak motiv.
About batak... There is a very very beautiful new book about their art. The name is "Batak sculptures". Thios book is completely full of awesome photos never seen (also weapon's pictures!!)

I have "Batak sculptures" and it it really beautiful! Highly recommended. Think I paid about $45 plus shipping. Will look trough it and see if there are any red handed pisos.

The colors, red (our visible world), black (underworld) and white (Spiritual world) are similar in several cultures, even as far north as Africa, as far south as PNG, down to Australia as well as many cultures in between.

But I would agree with Marcokeris about the Batak chain motif.

VVV · 29th August 2008, 09:55 AM

Thanks Marco and Bill.

I also have the new Batak book by Sibeth but I will be away from home until Monday to check it. (It's quite heavy so it could be worthwile to pick it up in a museum shop instead of having it shipped.)
On the colours it's of course always a bit dangerous to interpret too much in the meaning of similar symbols between totally different cultures.
Sometime it works and sometimes the same symbol has another meaning...
The chain motif I find Batak and as Ben mentioned it doesn't look like the Islamic motifs of the neighbouring people.

Michael

CharlesS · 29th August 2008, 04:10 PM

Likely the nicest one of these I have seen. With so much attention to detail and decor, I have to assume it is a status piece.

VVV · 31st August 2008, 09:24 PM

Thanks,

Back home again and I checked the new Batak Sculpture book by Sibeth and Carpenter.
7 different Piso S pictured in it where one had a resembling hilt as mine.
The one in the book was also red and black.
According to the book this sword was "connected with magical practises" among the Pakpak priests.

Michael

28th August 2008, 04:57 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Piso Sanalenggam with unusual hilt I found this Piso S some weeks ago. What's unusual is that it has a red-painted hilt, instead of the usual plain black horn hilt. I have checked the Dutch museum picture archives but haven't found any other Piso S like this. Does anybody of the forumites have any Batak blades, or other artefacts, with a similar painting of the motifs? Michael Attached Images

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28th August 2008, 06:37 PM	#2
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi Michael an nice one rare motif on the handle don't look Islamic motief Ben

28th August 2008, 08:22 PM	#3
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Michel if i have one like this surely i would be a very very happy man

29th August 2008, 04:20 AM	#4
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,001	What a beauty. I really like the wire wrap around the ferrule and the carvings on the scabbard.

29th August 2008, 07:00 AM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks all, Any input on the red-coloured hilt? Michael

29th August 2008, 09:55 AM	#8
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Marco and Bill. I also have the new Batak book by Sibeth but I will be away from home until Monday to check it. (It's quite heavy so it could be worthwile to pick it up in a museum shop instead of having it shipped.) On the colours it's of course always a bit dangerous to interpret too much in the meaning of similar symbols between totally different cultures. Sometime it works and sometimes the same symbol has another meaning... The chain motif I find Batak and as Ben mentioned it doesn't look like the Islamic motifs of the neighbouring people. Michael

29th August 2008, 04:10 PM	#9
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Likely the nicest one of these I have seen. With so much attention to detail and decor, I have to assume it is a status piece.

31st August 2008, 09:24 PM	#10
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks, Back home again and I checked the new Batak Sculpture book by Sibeth and Carpenter. 7 different Piso S pictured in it where one had a resembling hilt as mine. The one in the book was also red and black. According to the book this sword was "connected with magical practises" among the Pakpak priests. Michael