Another Fascinating Piso Podang

[CharlesS]

Again, as many of you know, I am fascinated by pieces that exhibit the clearly phenomenal expanse of trade done in the Islamic world pre-20th century, and this piece is another nice example!

Here is an old piso podang, likely 19th century with a very rare and fine hippo ivory hilt and a better than typical Persian trade blade of good contrast Persian wootz steel and remnants of gold koftgari to the spine.

It is very unusual among Indonesian and Malay imported blades of this type that the blade would not be cut down to a more comfortable size for that area of the world, but in this case the blade has not been cut down, or apparently altered at all.

The scabbard is simple, two very thin slabs of wood, and apparently was once held together by 1/2in. wide bands of some sort, all of which are now missing.

Once I have had a chance to properly clean and etch the blade, with perhaps, a new scabbard more worthy of it, I will post the results.

Interesting piece, and "right down my alley" in collecting interests.

Dimensions:
Overall length: 38in.
Blade length: 33in.
Blade width at the widest point: 1.25in.