a Sewar cross-dressing as a Badik?

[kai]

Hello Moshah,

Thanks for the additional pics!

It looks like the akar bahar got stabilized and a few cavities patched up? (Was quartz sand used as a filler?)

As Terengganu was basically a coastal country, it just make sense that the use of akar bahar are widely spread across it's region. Hence we have seen many akar bahar keris hilts in the "pipit teleng" or "anak ayam teleng" form - a hilt style associated with Terengganu's famous keris - the Keris Melela / Gelugor.

To me, as much as I loved abstract art, every akar bahar hilt was a surprise, a tell-tale pattern on styles that would never be the same, one after another.

That would make a great new thread, too! I have to admit that I can't claim having seen any number of old pipit teleng hilts made from AB.

The ideosyncracies of this organic material surely call for a very talented carver to make most out of each given piece!

Regards,
Kai

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by kai

It looks like the akar bahar got stabilized and a few cavities patched up? (Was quartz sand used as a filler?)

I sincerely think that is the classic way of patching the somewhat porous marine akar bahar material. However some examples were solid and need no patching at all...

Originally Posted by kai

That would make a great new thread, too! I have to admit that I can't claim having seen any number of old pipit teleng hilts made from AB.

I haven't see many of the old examples myself. I was told that older / antique akar bahar would be denser and solid, as those days it would comes in a bigger forms unlike today's akar bahar, where it has something to do with the declining habitat of the coral itself.

Perhaps Dave Henkel would hint us on the use of akar bahar of the N.Malaysian old world. Meanwhile, I posted a pix of a suspected aging akar bahar's badik hilt...

Regards,
Moshah

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Moshah

Meanwhile, I posted a pix of a suspected aging akar bahar's badik hilt...

What a beautiful hilt!

[kai]

Yup, really neat Terengganu piece, Moshah!

BTW, how old do you estimate the silverwork over the bolster and base of blade to be?

Regards,
Kai

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by kai

BTW, how old do you estimate the silverwork over the bolster and base of blade to be?

That was quite tricky, Kai.

Since you've asked, I don't think it was that old. The silver was rather thick, though. See few added pix and tell me whether you see it differently or not ...

On the other hand, my greatest worry is that the bolster and upper part of the badik would have been damaged beforehand, and this silver adornment was a repair idea...

I can not fathom that it was a special commission, which if it ever was, maybe Dave Henkel could throw in a few insights on it. Perhaps he has seen some other similar examples back then in N.Malaysia.

Regards,
Moshah

[kai]

Hello Moshah,

Since you've asked, I don't think it was that old. The silver was rather thick, though. See few added pix and tell me whether you see it differently or not ...

I agree: Looks like decent but possibly modern workmanship - maybe done sometime after WW2?

On the other hand, my greatest worry is that the bolster and upper part of the badik would have been damaged beforehand, and this silver adornment was a repair idea...

Those bolsters seem to be very sturdy - have seen only a few damaged examples and a piece with such a hilt is likely to have above average craftmanship as well as receiving decent maintenance. Thus, I guess you can put your worries at rest.

maybe Dave Henkel could throw in a few insights on it. Perhaps he has seen some other similar examples back then in N.Malaysia.

Yes, that would be great - we really need more info on traditional motifs on Terengganu silverwork!

Regards,
Kai

[DAHenkel]

Regarding the siver covered bolster...I have seen similar examples though rare enough, but whether it was to cover up a forging flaw or simply embellishment is a matter of speculation.

Also, I wanted to post another example of bahar putih...this on a very small (14cm blade, 21cm OAL) badik Terengganu in my collection.

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by Sajen

What a beautiful hilt!

Thanks, Detlef.

Did it not that your nice akar bahar rentjong hilt that was in a thread you've posted recently, was an antique too?