Piso Gading

Loedjoe · 4th January 2017, 02:43 PM

This cannot be a piso gading, as the hilt is silver/white metal, but perhaps this is an appropriate thread for it?

72 cm, blade 52 cm, hilt 8.5 cm. Light European? blade, perhaps more of a status piece than a fighting sword.

From the collection of the late Martin Kerner.

Should this be called a kalasan/djonap?

Sajen · 4th January 2017, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loedjoe

This cannot be a piso gading, as the hilt is silver/white metal, but perhaps this is an appropriate thread for it?

72 cm, blade 52 cm, hilt 8.5 cm. Light European? blade, perhaps more of a status piece than a fighting sword.

From the collection of the late Martin Kerner.

Should this be called a kalasan/djonap?

Very nice piece as well! And yes, I would call it kalasan. Have you polished the fittings? I think the reddish metal is suassa.

Regards,
Detlef

Battara · 4th January 2017, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Very nice piece as well! And yes, I would call it kalasan. Have you polished the fittings? I think the reddish metal is suassa.

Regards,
Detlef

I agree with you Detlef. This does look like suassa, and the rest of the hilt material looks silver to me and not white metal.

Also a wonderful piece!

CharlesS · 4th January 2017, 03:02 PM

Loedjoe,

I think you are spot on that this cannot be called a gading, because of the very meaning of the word. Perhaps kalasan is a better term.

Regardless, your example is as lovely and ornate as I have seen. Personally, this is one I would clean up a bit, after all, it was the "bling" that you wanted to be seen, but I believe that is up to any individual collector's discretion. The scabbard there is so lovely and elegant!

Roland_M · 5th January 2017, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loedjoe

This cannot be a piso gading, as the hilt is silver/white metal, but perhaps this is an appropriate thread for it?

72 cm, blade 52 cm, hilt 8.5 cm. Light European? blade, perhaps more of a status piece than a fighting sword.

From the collection of the late Martin Kerner.

Should this be called a kalasan/djonap?

Hello Loedjoe,

I think this is the right thread for this beautiful sword, thank you for showing it. I think the blade is of local production, Batak, Aceh and Dayak had great blacksmiths.

In my opinion, the best Aceh-swords are far above European standard of the late 18th and 19th century. Thin, flexible and a cutting edge, hard as glass.

If you find signs of lamination on your blade but no specific pattern, it is almost 100% of local production.

Such a nice scabbard and hilt probably contain a good blade, so I would polish it a little bit to see what is below the corrosion.

Regards,
Roland

4th January 2017, 02:43 PM	#1
Loedjoe Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Oxford (UK) Posts: 96	This cannot be a piso gading, as the hilt is silver/white metal, but perhaps this is an appropriate thread for it? 72 cm, blade 52 cm, hilt 8.5 cm. Light European? blade, perhaps more of a status piece than a fighting sword. From the collection of the late Martin Kerner. Should this be called a kalasan/djonap? Attached Images

4th January 2017, 03:02 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Loedjoe, I think you are spot on that this cannot be called a gading, because of the very meaning of the word. Perhaps kalasan is a better term. Regardless, your example is as lovely and ornate as I have seen. Personally, this is one I would clean up a bit, after all, it was the "bling" that you wanted to be seen, but I believe that is up to any individual collector's discretion. The scabbard there is so lovely and elegant! Last edited by CharlesS; 5th January 2017 at 12:34 AM.