Philippine Sword?

[Ian]

Hi Jim,

What a nice piece and the face strikes me as very unusual on a pedang lurus. Such a clear representation of a human face on the hilt and scabbard seems antithetical to Muslim tradition, where abstract features are much more common. Perhaps this tradition applies more to keris than other Indonesian weapons, although Moro weapons use only abstract decorations of living creatures.

One possibility may be that your sword was designed for a foreigner.

I'm afraid I don't know the significance of a face on your sword and scabbard. Alan Maisey, Kai, Detlef, and others who have a better understanding of Indonesian weapons may have a clearer idea.

Sorry I can't be more specific.

Regards,

Ian.

[Jim McDougall]

[QUOTE=Ian;263576]Hi Jim,

What a nice piece and the face strikes me as very unusual on a pedang lurus. Such a clear representation of a human face on the hilt and scabbard seems antithetical to Muslim tradition, where abstract features are much more common. Perhaps this tradition applies more to keris than other Indonesian weapons, although Moro weapons use only abstract decorations of living creatures.

One possibility may be that your sword was designed for a foreigner.

I'm afraid I don't know the significance of a face on your sword and scabbard. Alan Maisey, Kai, Detlef, and others who have a better understanding of Indonesian weapons may have a clearer idea.

Sorry I can't be more specific.

Regards,

Ian.[/QUO

Thank you so much Ian! So I guess this is quite an anomaly as suggested by the absence of response.

[Ian]

Thank you so much Ian! So I guess this is quite an anomaly as suggested by the absence of response.

Yes. I think it is a bit of a puzzler, Jim.

As i look more closely at the face on the pommel, it seems to be European. There is a clear mustache and a small beard, with the cheeks shaved. As such, it qualifies as a "Van Dyck beard." This strengthens my belief that the piece was made for a European, perhaps depicted in his likeness. He seems to be a happy chappy.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you so much Ian! So I guess this is quite an anomaly as suggested by the absence of response.

I don't see any European but an Indian face. Hinduism was also present in Java. The question for me is which god is it?

[David R]

Originally Posted by Kubur

I don't see any European but an Indian face. Hinduism was also present in Java. The question for me is which god is it?

Or a lion?

[Kubur]

Very much like a lion on the scabbard
or maybe Surya the Indian god of the sun...

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you guys!! I am thinking too, something in the Hindu realm.

[Ian]

Interesting idea that this depiction is related to Hinduism. I agree that the treatment of the eyes suggests Hindu art, however a half beard and mustache is uncommon among Hindus (I don't recall seeing a half beard in Hindu art work before--usually just a mustache or a full beard and mustache). I have blown up Jim's picture of the pommel to get a clearer image of the face. It is a human image (not a lion--the ears offer a definitive identification). Suraya, the Indian God of the Sun, is only depicted with a large mustache, never a beard, so probably not related to this God.


Recent Census Data from Indonesia indicate that Hindus make up about 1.74% of the total population.


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