North Sumatra Klewang

Athanase · 14th January 2021, 06:34 PM

Hello,

I recently found this heavy Klewang, sold as an African machete.
I think it comes from North Sumatra, I have already seen it on the forum or on the internet with painted or engraved scabbard and foliage sculptures on the handle.
Here the model is really very simple, just a weaving of rattan on a wooden handle. There are remains of an old white varnish covered in places with another brown, I think these are later additions made once the weapon arrived in Europe.
The blade is thick and heavy, the total length is 77cm.
Seems like a rare model, but I don't know what culture / people made this type of Klewang. Is there a more precise name than "Klewang"?

Thank you in advance for your comments.

Peter Andeweg · 14th January 2021, 08:42 PM

Nice klewang, its indeed Sumatra, likely Batak. The hilt type is referred to as 'Hulu iku mie' and often seen in combination with this type of blade.
Regards, Peter

Sajen · 14th January 2021, 11:02 PM

Yes, agree. It's a Batak klewang. Are you going to remove the paint Séverin?

Regards,
Detlef

Athanase · 14th January 2021, 11:11 PM

I think I will try to remove the varnish on the wooden part of the handle but I dare not touch the rattan.
Why would these Klewang be batak? on those that I saw I only found typical sumatra decoration, but none specifically batak. (except perhaps the overall shape of the handle).

kai · 17th January 2021, 03:53 PM

Hello Séverin,

Quote:

I think I will try to remove the varnish on the wooden part of the handle but I dare not touch the rattan.

It looks as if the whole hilt (including the disk at the base of the blade - possibly integral to the wooden hilt?) got dunked into some stubborn sort of paint - please confirm. If so, I doubt this was done during its working life. OTOH, painted pommels are known from Sumatra (and the Malay world in general).

If you repeatedly rub the whole hilt with linseed oil (or paraffin oil depending on your preference) over weeks/months, this may loosen up at least some of the paint, especially if it got applied later on already worn-in materials. If it happens to stuck well, it might be modern paint and/or applied to freshly restored rattan braiding.

Quote:

Why would these Klewang be batak? on those that I saw I only found typical sumatra decoration, but none specifically batak. (except perhaps the overall shape of the handle).

I'm with you in not seeing any stylistic details that specifically support any Batak origin; even the hilt shape of the typical sukul jering is quite a bit different.

IMHO, the common attribution to all or any of the Batak groups hasn’t convincingly established yet. We have the names hulu iku mie and hulu/sukul simpul from northern Sumatra (documented by Kreemer during the early 20th century) for this hilt type. There are examples of this sword in museum collections which seem to have picked up in southern Sumatra (i.e. Palembang), too.

I guess that the notion of this blade pattern specifically being of "Batak" origin got stuck in the mind of many collectors based on Albert’s book. Since the nice piece in Fig.268 is from his own collection, I hope he can share its provenance with us.

It's quite possible that this type of sword was known and utilized with some Batak groups; it seems pretty safe to assume that it also was utilized in other regions though.

I'll try to write up some preliminary info from my research when I find a bit of spare time.

Regards,
Kai

Athanase · 17th January 2021, 11:11 PM

For the paint, yes it seems to have originally covered the entire handle.
The rattan braiding must have dried and retracted because it is moving a bit. I was thinking of trying on a small area with turpentine oil.

David · 14th January 2021, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Yes, agree. It's a Batak klewang. Are you going to remove the paint Séverin?

Séverin will have to make up his own mind, but this looks like a real "users" to me and that paint seems to have gotten there of it's own accord. Sometimes it's best to leave the history in place i think.

Athanase · 14th January 2021, 11:22 PM

I've never seen the rattan braiding from an Indonesian hilt covered with paint, (I just see lacquered), that's why I thought it was not local but a modification out of the original cultural context.

asomotif · 17th January 2021, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Séverin will have to make up his own mind, but this looks like a real "users" to me and that paint seems to have gotten there of it's own accord. Sometimes it's best to leave the history in place i think.

I would leave the paint as it is. It looks like old paint and old rattan to me.
Of course it is part of the history of the weapon.
The fact that we do'nt know why it was painted does not change that.

Rick · 18th January 2021, 05:39 PM

^^^
I agree. Looks like it might be a can of worms.
Once stripped that rattan weaving may need to be replaced; and then what do you end up with; a refurbished antique?

"First, do no harm."

14th January 2021, 06:34 PM	#1
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	North Sumatra Klewang Hello, I recently found this heavy Klewang, sold as an African machete. I think it comes from North Sumatra, I have already seen it on the forum or on the internet with painted or engraved scabbard and foliage sculptures on the handle. Here the model is really very simple, just a weaving of rattan on a wooden handle. There are remains of an old white varnish covered in places with another brown, I think these are later additions made once the weapon arrived in Europe. The blade is thick and heavy, the total length is 77cm. Seems like a rare model, but I don't know what culture / people made this type of Klewang. Is there a more precise name than "Klewang"? Thank you in advance for your comments. Attached Images

14th January 2021, 08:42 PM	#2
Peter Andeweg Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Vlissingen, Netherlands Posts: 71	Nice klewang, its indeed Sumatra, likely Batak. The hilt type is referred to as 'Hulu iku mie' and often seen in combination with this type of blade. Regards, Peter

14th January 2021, 11:02 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,772	Yes, agree. It's a Batak klewang. Are you going to remove the paint Séverin? Regards, Detlef

14th January 2021, 11:11 PM	#4
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	I think I will try to remove the varnish on the wooden part of the handle but I dare not touch the rattan. Why would these Klewang be batak? on those that I saw I only found typical sumatra decoration, but none specifically batak. (except perhaps the overall shape of the handle).

17th January 2021, 11:11 PM	#6
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	For the paint, yes it seems to have originally covered the entire handle. The rattan braiding must have dried and retracted because it is moving a bit. I was thinking of trying on a small area with turpentine oil.

14th January 2021, 11:22 PM	#8
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	I've never seen the rattan braiding from an Indonesian hilt covered with paint, (I just see lacquered), that's why I thought it was not local but a modification out of the original cultural context.

18th January 2021, 05:39 PM	#10
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,291	^^^ I agree. Looks like it might be a can of worms. Once stripped that rattan weaving may need to be replaced; and then what do you end up with; a refurbished antique? "First, do no harm."