Hemola from Savu Island (Type E )

Athanase · 14th July 2019, 01:55 PM

Hello,

This is my second sword from "Timor": a Hemola from Savu island (the seller bought it on the place).
I also have another handle of the same style (Type E in Timor's sword classification) but whithout provenance, so it's possible that it comes from the island of Roti where the parang are similar to Savu.

Unfortunately there was no sheath.

Length of the blade: 48cm

Sajen · 16th July 2019, 01:21 AM

Hello Séverin,

I am surprised that nobody comment until now!

A very nice Hemola you get there!

Any signs that the blade is laminated? Was the seller able to tell you more about this sword?
I doubt that someone would be able to distinguish between swords from Savu and Roti, I think that there are not enough examples with clear provenance useful for comparison. But frankly said I don't know if I am correct with my assumption.

Regards,
Detlef

Athanase · 17th July 2019, 12:11 AM

Hello Detlef,
The blade is laminated but isn't very apparent.
On this sword in particular he had no information, he bought it from the owner's descent, it was totally rusty. For other timor's sword coming from elsewhere (more complete but much more expensive) he had more information up to the name of the village and ethnicity.

Sajen · 18th July 2019, 10:27 PM

The seller seems to have a nice and interesting collection!

Athanase · 19th July 2019, 12:42 AM

Yes, but it's He is acollector / professional seller of Indonesian (mainly) ethnographic object (mostly timor), he lives most of the year in Bali.
He also had a "Timor Keris".
A very old javanvaise blade (without the ganja) fully dressed in timor style, but too expensive for me.

Sajen · 7th December 2024, 10:06 PM

Hello Séverin,
Here is my honest one which I have now for a while. Bought it from a lady in Australia, no exact provenance. Like yours it was very rusty. 63,5 cm long with a blade from 48 cm, 8 mm thick behind the handle. Handle from black horn, partley nibbled from rats. Blade is laminated.

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 7th December 2024, 10:59 PM

Here are all hemola which were shown at this place, our both, one from Ian and one from Bill M. for comparison.

Sajen · 7th December 2024, 11:03 PM

And the handles for comparison.

Maurice · 7th December 2024, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

I doubt that someone would be able to distinguish between swords from Savu and Roti, I think that there are not enough examples with clear provenance useful for comparison. But frankly said I don't know if I am correct with my assumption.

Regards,
Detlef

As a matter of fact, there are several very early collected swords from Roti in the Dutch NMVW collection. Also several with similar hilts like the two that Severin placed.

I am not able to find early collected swords from Savu in the NMVW collection, but I found an old drawing from 1851 of a warrior from Savu carrying a sword.

14th July 2019, 01:55 PM	#1
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Hemola from Savu Island (Type E ) Hello, This is my second sword from "Timor": a Hemola from Savu island (the seller bought it on the place). I also have another handle of the same style (Type E in Timor's sword classification) but whithout provenance, so it's possible that it comes from the island of Roti where the parang are similar to Savu. Unfortunately there was no sheath. Length of the blade: 48cm Attached Images

7th December 2024, 10:06 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,895	Hello Séverin, Here is my honest one which I have now for a while. Bought it from a lady in Australia, no exact provenance. Like yours it was very rusty. 63,5 cm long with a blade from 48 cm, 8 mm thick behind the handle. Handle from black horn, partley nibbled from rats. Blade is laminated. Regards, Detlef Attached Images

7th December 2024, 10:59 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,895	Here are all hemola which were shown at this place, our both, one from Ian and one from Bill M. for comparison. Attached Images

7th December 2024, 11:03 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,895	And the handles for comparison. Attached Images

16th July 2019, 01:21 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,895	Hello Séverin, I am surprised that nobody comment until now! A very nice Hemola you get there! Any signs that the blade is laminated? Was the seller able to tell you more about this sword? I doubt that someone would be able to distinguish between swords from Savu and Roti, I think that there are not enough examples with clear provenance useful for comparison. But frankly said I don't know if I am correct with my assumption. Regards, Detlef

17th July 2019, 12:11 AM	#3
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Hello Detlef, The blade is laminated but isn't very apparent. On this sword in particular he had no information, he bought it from the owner's descent, it was totally rusty. For other timor's sword coming from elsewhere (more complete but much more expensive) he had more information up to the name of the village and ethnicity.

18th July 2019, 10:27 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,895	The seller seems to have a nice and interesting collection!

19th July 2019, 12:42 AM	#5
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	Yes, but it's He is acollector / professional seller of Indonesian (mainly) ethnographic object (mostly timor), he lives most of the year in Bali. He also had a "Timor Keris". A very old javanvaise blade (without the ganja) fully dressed in timor style, but too expensive for me.