'Crown' mounts on sikin panjang

[Loedjoe]

A third one, with no gold remaining in the inlay. The inscription on the back of the blade is almost obliterated - I am told 'the last word is 'Muhammad' but nothing else can be satisfactorily read; the final letters before Muhammad are h.y.t'.
On the scabbard
Inilah alamat sarung sikin (This is the scabbard of the sikin of)
Teungku Kecik b.n.w.h.w (Benuhu?) l.w.p?.y.n?.y [i.e. name?]
k.m.w .... nenggeri Kabat[?].
One day I shall try to get proper photos of the inscriptions, to see if a bit more can be deciphered.

[Battara]

I like these sikim. I am told that the one with gold crowns are the rarest.

Question for the "experts" (of whom I am not ): what type of horn makes up the hilt on the gold crowned sikim?

[kai]

Hello Jose,

Water buffalo (kerbau, carabao, etc.) seems to be the quite universal default origin of Aceh/Sumatran hilts if made from horn; sometimes you see the blonde variety from albino mutant kerbau. I can't remember any antique piece for which any other origin of the horn was likely (much less verified which would be tough short of DNA evidence). Except for rhino that is, which has been utilized for carving very few smaller hilts (keris, etc.).

Regards,
Kai

[T. Koch]

I agree a 100% with kai in the above. Although I find it interesting, that they often seem to be carved of the light brown variety and very rarely darker or completely black. At least as far as the specimens type of hulu tumpang beunteung I've seen.

I also second the rhino comment. SEA rhino species have always been scarce - even though not as bad off as today, where there's a couple hundred left of the Sumatran and less than 100 of the Javan. I expect those guys to be gone like many of the other subspecies before my own children are old enough to go and see them. Even back when more plentiful, they were notoriously hard to find as they are relatively small and good at moving unseen through thick jungle.

They also yield a rather deminutive horn compared to the African or even Indian species. I have never read any historical sources of the use of SEA rhino horn, but I would expect it to be a product reserved for the very few.


All the best, - Thor

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by T. Koch

I agree a 100% with kai in the above. Although I find it interesting, that they often seem to be carved of the light brown variety and very rarely darker or completely black. At least as far as the specimens type of hulu tumpang beunteung I've seen.

Yes, agree on this one too.

Although there are exceptions, my general impression is also that the dark horn is often used when more detailled and elaborate floral carvings are made.

[T. Koch]

Wow Willem, that's a total masterpiece that one (your link)! The wear and patina to the hulu is just gorgeous and who wouldn't love to have one of that age? Made me drool in my morning coffee...

Joe, your set is also stunning! They compliment each other really well: With gold crown, ivory throat and jawi inscriptions, you have all the different types of possible icing on the sikim-cake - indeed a true trinity!

Thanks for posting the extra pics - made my morning!


Have a cool day, - Thor

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Loedjoe

A third one, with no gold remaining in the inlay. The inscription on the back of the blade is almost obliterated

Impressive piece with this combi of hilt shape, floral decoration, inlays (although gone) and the inscription. I wish we could date this one.

I assume you meanwhile used the searchfunction on this website.
if you just search on "sikin" you will find many threads.

Here is a very nice one with very rare shape and decorations.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=sikin

Best regards,
Willem