Rencong Rentjong for comments

[kai]

Sorry, glossed over your request, Willem!

I am still in the process of identifying/verifying indicators of origin and/or style/age/etc. for rencong; in many cases it's only a guestimate...

This blade looks Gayo to me because of its stout proportions; Albert puts it like this in his book: "Blades from Gayo have a somewhat less elegant line. They are a little straighter and more pointed." (AvZ, 2001)

Also Gayo rencong seem to utilize ivory more often than in Aceh; in Aceh horn hilts seem to be favored except for rare akar bahar pieces and some ivory hulu puntung with detailed carving.

Regards,
Kai

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by kai

This blade looks Gayo to me because of its stout proportions; Albert puts it like this in his book: "Blades from Gayo have a somewhat less elegant line. They are a little straighter and more pointed." (AvZ, 2001)

Also Gayo rencong seem to utilize ivory more often than in Aceh; in Aceh horn hilts seem to be favored except for rare akar bahar pieces and some ivory hulu puntung with detailed carving.

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

So it is a combination of blade and hilt on which you base the Gayo origin.


Imho most Gayo pieces we know are not only of stout proportions, but also of stout dimensions. this pieces is under 10 inches (ca.25 cms) overall length. Very small for a rencong even atjeh rencong.

Best regards,
Willem

[Jonno]

The hilt looks Gajo to me. The origine of the blade looks Atjeh.
(many blades where forged in Atjeh and exported)
The blades forged from Gaja looks more strait and are poor forged.

Anyway, it's not 100 % Atjeh or Gajo item.
The scabbed is modern and not original. (Makes identification more difficult)

Ivory was rearly used in Atjeh, you see them only in a few kind of weapons, like the Siwaïh, 2 kinds of rentjongs / rencongs and the sikin peuangan.
In Gajo you see much ivory on hilt and scabbards.

[russel]

Thanks for all the great information guys. A few more questions.

Any ideas about age? If the handle (hulu?) is a replacement, is it contemporary with the blade or of later manufacture?

Is it's small scale of any significance? It is certainly quite concealable.

Would it have been an item of quality at the time of manufacture, or were blades and hilts like this commonplace?

Thanks again for all the fantastic information.

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Jonno

Ivory was rearly used in Atjeh, you see them only in a few kind of weapons, like the Siwaïh, 2 kinds of rentjongs / rencongs and the sikin peuangan.

John,
ivory rentjong in Atjeh, are these the 2 variations you mean

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by asomotif

John,
ivory rentjong in Atjeh, are these the 2 variations you mean

What a beauties Willem!
My feeling is that both are Atjeh types.
Have you checked Fisher?

Maurice

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Maurice

What a beauties Willem!
My feeling is that both are Atjeh types.
Have you checked Fisher?
Maurice

Hello Maurice,
I did not check Fisher yet, but Imho these are both Atjeh.

But as John mentions specifically 2 type of rencong with ivory hilts, I just wanted to check if this is what he means.

Best regards,
Willem

[Jonno]

Hi Willem,
Yes, this kind.
There are a few more variations.

Btw, nice pieces.