Indonesian/Indian Ankus or Spearhead?

Timo Nieminen · 31st August 2017, 11:39 PM

Looks much more like a mak than an ankus to me. A spear-mak hybrid rather than the usual single-edged blade. Might be a nice weapon to play with: better cutting than a normal spear, and the ability to trap/hook that you get with a winged spear.

Having neither an elephant nor one of these, I can't try one out as an ankus. In the absence of experiment, all I can say is that it looks so completely un-ankus-like that I cannot seriously consider it as a type of ankus.

A. G. Maisey · 2nd September 2017, 01:48 AM

The item with the bird base blade is stylistically Javanese and very probably of Javanese origin, I've got some pics of similar things somewhere, but I can't remember which book, if I can find them, I'll post them. In any case, it is a tombak, a spear, in this case, ornamental/ceremonial.

The other item with the human/beast style base has a vague hint of Jawa, but I'd need to handle it before I could decide on whether it was likely to be Javanese craftsmanship or not. If it is Javanese it was most likely intended for use as a finial, probably above a banner.

Henk · 2nd September 2017, 09:52 AM

Alan is completely right.I also have a book with pictures of similar tombak.

ArmsAndAntiques · 2nd September 2017, 02:12 PM

Thanks all for the knowledgeable response. Does anyone have the reference to the book mentioned?

Interestingly in Hales (2013) there are also two spearheads with the blades coming out of the head of the bird. Though they appear to be of simpler and earlier construction.

What would these have been used for? I.E. what kind of ceremonial use would a spear like this be username in?

kronckew · 2nd September 2017, 07:02 PM

i vote for the Mak!

rather odd weapons with the edge on the 'wrong' side. double edged version would work tho.

A. G. Maisey · 2nd September 2017, 09:03 PM

This image was copied from Sachse, he copied from somewhere else, maybe Jasper & Pirngadie. Sachse is not the book that I had in mind, I've got a small publication that has a lot of images of spears in it, that were originally published in J&P. I'll look for it when I have time.

In Jawa any spear is called "tombak".

I do not know the name for a finial, but it might be acceptable to use "sirah" or "endhas", both words mean "head", but in different language levels -- sirah is Krama, endhas is Ngoko. Possibly Krama usage would be more appropriate, assuming the use is associated with a higher level of society.

A finial sometimes appears on the top of a shaft used for a banner in a procession.

The spear head would also be ceremonial, possibly also processional, but I do not know the precise use, by this I mean that I do not know exactly what procession it would be appropriate to use it in..

Richard G · 3rd September 2017, 07:28 PM

Whilst not necessarily making an an attribution of these examples, spears were used by 'elephantiers' for the control of elephants. An elephant, being such a big beast, cannot always be controlled by it's mahout and attendants would walk alongside with a spear pressed to the elephants cheek to keep it on the straight and narrow, particularly if the elephant has a reputation for being 'wayward'. Such spears can be ceremonial, often decorative, but with a purpose, and do not need a particularly strong spike, merely one that the elephant feels threatening to it's eyes.
Regards
Richard.

2nd September 2017, 07:02 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	i vote for the Mak! rather odd weapons with the edge on the 'wrong' side. double edged version would work tho. Attached Images

2nd September 2017, 09:03 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	This image was copied from Sachse, he copied from somewhere else, maybe Jasper & Pirngadie. Sachse is not the book that I had in mind, I've got a small publication that has a lot of images of spears in it, that were originally published in J&P. I'll look for it when I have time. In Jawa any spear is called "tombak". I do not know the name for a finial, but it might be acceptable to use "sirah" or "endhas", both words mean "head", but in different language levels -- sirah is Krama, endhas is Ngoko. Possibly Krama usage would be more appropriate, assuming the use is associated with a higher level of society. A finial sometimes appears on the top of a shaft used for a banner in a procession. The spear head would also be ceremonial, possibly also processional, but I do not know the precise use, by this I mean that I do not know exactly what procession it would be appropriate to use it in.. Attached Images

31st August 2017, 11:39 PM	#1
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	Looks much more like a mak than an ankus to me. A spear-mak hybrid rather than the usual single-edged blade. Might be a nice weapon to play with: better cutting than a normal spear, and the ability to trap/hook that you get with a winged spear. Having neither an elephant nor one of these, I can't try one out as an ankus. In the absence of experiment, all I can say is that it looks so completely un-ankus-like that I cannot seriously consider it as a type of ankus.

2nd September 2017, 01:48 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	The item with the bird base blade is stylistically Javanese and very probably of Javanese origin, I've got some pics of similar things somewhere, but I can't remember which book, if I can find them, I'll post them. In any case, it is a tombak, a spear, in this case, ornamental/ceremonial. The other item with the human/beast style base has a vague hint of Jawa, but I'd need to handle it before I could decide on whether it was likely to be Javanese craftsmanship or not. If it is Javanese it was most likely intended for use as a finial, probably above a banner.

2nd September 2017, 09:52 AM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Alan is completely right.I also have a book with pictures of similar tombak.

2nd September 2017, 02:12 PM	#4
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	Thanks all for the knowledgeable response. Does anyone have the reference to the book mentioned? Interestingly in Hales (2013) there are also two spearheads with the blades coming out of the head of the bird. Though they appear to be of simpler and earlier construction. What would these have been used for? I.E. what kind of ceremonial use would a spear like this be username in?

3rd September 2017, 07:28 PM	#7
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 411	Whilst not necessarily making an an attribution of these examples, spears were used by 'elephantiers' for the control of elephants. An elephant, being such a big beast, cannot always be controlled by it's mahout and attendants would walk alongside with a spear pressed to the elephants cheek to keep it on the straight and narrow, particularly if the elephant has a reputation for being 'wayward'. Such spears can be ceremonial, often decorative, but with a purpose, and do not need a particularly strong spike, merely one that the elephant feels threatening to it's eyes. Regards Richard.