Rentjong with akar bahar hilt

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hello Detlef,

Very nice piece.
The blade scabbard and handle are all Atjeh.
No Gayo influences imho.

The silver may be a later addition maybe because the handle broke.

I have a letteropener rentjong dated mid 30's with similar floral design.

Best regards,
Willem

Thank you Willem,

so it is a Aceh piece. I have asked because the silver cap and the short end of the handle but for this you give the explanation also.
The floral design is indeed similar.
Crazy that someone come to the idea to cover the akar bahar handle with lacquer.

Regards,

Detlef

[Battara]

Now I see the black coral - the lacquer did muddy the picture totally.

I agree - who would put black lacquer on black coral?!?!?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

Now I see the black coral - the lacquer did muddy the picture totally.

I agree - who would put black lacquer on black coral?!?!?

I only can guess that the man who collect this retjong don't know what he have there in front of him and has done it since in Indonesia everybody will know about this material.

[Moshah]

Originally Posted by Sajen

I only can guess that the man who collect this retjong don't know what he have there in front of him and has done it since in Indonesia everybody will know about this material.

Perhaps that is one's way to protect the material. Akar bahar is somewhat porous, minuscule pores were scattered all over it and the previous owner would think that it was the best coating he could give...

Or maybe it was purposely lacquered down beyond recognition, as a measure of secrecy...

BTW, that was a nice, old akar bahar you've got there...

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Moshah

Perhaps that is one's way to protect the material. Akar bahar is somewhat porous, minuscule pores were scattered all over it and the previous owner would think that it was the best coating he could give...

Or maybe it was purposely lacquered down beyond recognition, as a measure of secrecy...

BTW, that was a nice, old akar bahar you've got there...

It is now the third piece I've got from this old collection and it seems that the collector was used to cover all (or some) of his items with lacquer, two blades was covered with clear lacquer. My wild guess: he don't know about the material and want to give the hilt a homogeneous colour. But who knows exactly since the collector is not on earth anymore.