My rencong pudoi

kai · 15th February 2023, 12:13 PM

Hello Johan,

I'm with Detlef: Keep this hilt as is - it's a genuine rencong from the 19th century.

I agree that this hilt started out as hulu meucangge; at some point the extension got removed and the remaining hilt smoothed out most likely for continued use during its working life as evidenced by the old patina (even if less than that of the remaining horn surface).

While it may have been done as a repair of a hilt that got broken, it may also be an attempt for easing concealed carry. Apparently the Dutch banned wearing of a rencong during their early exploits in northern Sumatra and I remember a claim that many hilts got cut down to bypass persecution - need to find the reference though.

BTW, hulu meucangge constructed from 2 parts are known from ivory and akar bahar. However, this doesn't make sense for horn (which is bend after heating to obtain a structurally sound hilt from a single piece of horn). And a modern replacement will always look off!

As already mentioned, there is quite some diversity of hulu pungtung: Many have decorative carving on the distal pommel while others are plain with just evenly rounded pommel. While some of the latter may indeed be cut down examples, there are a good number carved from akar bahar (as Willem's shown above) or from horn in original configuration as evidenced by its grain. Thus, also these plain hilts are a legitimate type.

Regards,
Kai

kai · 15th February 2023, 12:22 PM

Hello Johan,

Your post #6 clearly shows that the paint was applied without real craftsmanship. Also the style is nothing like local motifs. I feel certain that this wasn't done by any indigenous North Sumatran ethnic group.

I'd be really inclined to remove this pseudo-embellishment almost certainly done by a foreign culture...

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 15th February 2023, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Your post #6 clearly shows that the paint was applied without real craftsmanship. Also the style is nothing like local motifs. I feel certain that this wasn't done by any indigenous North Sumatran ethnic group.

I'd be really inclined to remove this pseudo-embellishment almost certainly done by a foreign culture...

Hello Kai,

What makes you convinced that the painting was not done in Indonesia? What we can see in the close-ups in #6 is that the painting is rather worn and looks fairly old to my eyes.
I am very careful by removing anything from my items when I am not sure when and by whom it was done.

Regards,
Detlef

kai · 15th February 2023, 03:04 PM

Hello Detlef,

It seems to be some modern lacquer applied in a hasty way: Note the blisters from uneven application, trapped air bubbles, and tiny splashes (one even seems to sit on the re-carved surface).

I'm confident that this wasn't done by any traditional Aceh/Gayo/Alas artisan. It may well have been done in Medan, Jakarta, Bali, etc. or in South Africa! Compare it with old sunginggan work or lacquer work from Palembang. Moreover, traditional white paint applied on polished horn doesn't stand a chance to hold up well in active use.

Some parts of the paint seem to be loose already. For one's peace of mind, one could try to heat a piece of the paint on a clean hotplate for cooking and test for any artificial/plastic smell... (Do it on your own risk though! Be aware that it may leave unsightly residues, form harmful gases/smoke, scatter very hot blobs, or even ignite.)

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 15th February 2023, 06:29 PM

Hello Kai,

I am careful about giving any advice to remove something when I don't have the chance to examine it with my own eyes by handling it. My two cents.

Regards,
Detlef

kai · 15th February 2023, 06:49 PM

Sure, your mileage may vary, Detlef.

The close-ups yield enough insight IMVHO.

It's Johan's call, obviously.

Regards,
Kai

Johan van Zyl · 16th February 2023, 07:19 AM

Friends, the way I am reading this is that Kai is in general agreement with Detlef. We have this mutual feeling, that we are morally obliged to preserve what is antique and irreplaceable. That's because we view ourselves as not owners but custodians of objects that should be passed on for the benefit of generations to follow.
Which leads me to decide to err on the side of caution and I will therefor not try to obliterate the foreign-looking leafy scrollwork on the hulu. In any case, I don't think I COULD erase it without compromising in some way the existing patina on the horn.
Of course, the notion I have of home-crafting the missing scabbard is still on the cards. No harm can come of that. No matter that experts might frown on my handiwork, although, when a few years ago I finally completed a scabbard for my Bugis keris of Riau, it did not attract any negative comments!
My thanks to you all for the help you have given in this thread!
Regards
Johan

15th February 2023, 12:13 PM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Johan, I'm with Detlef: Keep this hilt as is - it's a genuine rencong from the 19th century. I agree that this hilt started out as hulu meucangge; at some point the extension got removed and the remaining hilt smoothed out most likely for continued use during its working life as evidenced by the old patina (even if less than that of the remaining horn surface). While it may have been done as a repair of a hilt that got broken, it may also be an attempt for easing concealed carry. Apparently the Dutch banned wearing of a rencong during their early exploits in northern Sumatra and I remember a claim that many hilts got cut down to bypass persecution - need to find the reference though. BTW, hulu meucangge constructed from 2 parts are known from ivory and akar bahar. However, this doesn't make sense for horn (which is bend after heating to obtain a structurally sound hilt from a single piece of horn). And a modern replacement will always look off! As already mentioned, there is quite some diversity of hulu pungtung: Many have decorative carving on the distal pommel while others are plain with just evenly rounded pommel. While some of the latter may indeed be cut down examples, there are a good number carved from akar bahar (as Willem's shown above) or from horn in original configuration as evidenced by its grain. Thus, also these plain hilts are a legitimate type. Regards, Kai

15th February 2023, 12:22 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Johan, Your post #6 clearly shows that the paint was applied without real craftsmanship. Also the style is nothing like local motifs. I feel certain that this wasn't done by any indigenous North Sumatran ethnic group. I'd be really inclined to remove this pseudo-embellishment almost certainly done by a foreign culture... Regards, Kai

15th February 2023, 03:04 PM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Detlef, It seems to be some modern lacquer applied in a hasty way: Note the blisters from uneven application, trapped air bubbles, and tiny splashes (one even seems to sit on the re-carved surface). I'm confident that this wasn't done by any traditional Aceh/Gayo/Alas artisan. It may well have been done in Medan, Jakarta, Bali, etc. or in South Africa! Compare it with old sunginggan work or lacquer work from Palembang. Moreover, traditional white paint applied on polished horn doesn't stand a chance to hold up well in active use. Some parts of the paint seem to be loose already. For one's peace of mind, one could try to heat a piece of the paint on a clean hotplate for cooking and test for any artificial/plastic smell... (Do it on your own risk though! Be aware that it may leave unsightly residues, form harmful gases/smoke, scatter very hot blobs, or even ignite.) Regards, Kai

15th February 2023, 06:29 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Hello Kai, I am careful about giving any advice to remove something when I don't have the chance to examine it with my own eyes by handling it. My two cents. Regards, Detlef

15th February 2023, 06:49 PM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Sure, your mileage may vary, Detlef. The close-ups yield enough insight IMVHO. It's Johan's call, obviously. Regards, Kai

16th February 2023, 07:19 AM	#7
Johan van Zyl Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: I live in Gordon's Bay, a village in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Posts: 126	Friends, the way I am reading this is that Kai is in general agreement with Detlef. We have this mutual feeling, that we are morally obliged to preserve what is antique and irreplaceable. That's because we view ourselves as not owners but custodians of objects that should be passed on for the benefit of generations to follow. Which leads me to decide to err on the side of caution and I will therefor not try to obliterate the foreign-looking leafy scrollwork on the hulu. In any case, I don't think I COULD erase it without compromising in some way the existing patina on the horn. Of course, the notion I have of home-crafting the missing scabbard is still on the cards. No harm can come of that. No matter that experts might frown on my handiwork, although, when a few years ago I finally completed a scabbard for my Bugis keris of Riau, it did not attract any negative comments! My thanks to you all for the help you have given in this thread! Regards Johan