Tombak Lada for comment.

kai · 28th November 2020, 10:35 PM

Congrats, Thomas - a really nice piece! (Please let me know whenever you decide to part with it...

)

Any provenance? The origin is Karo Batak, of course.

The inlay will most likely be suasa, indeed. (Probably with really low gold content.)

Regards,
Kai

Klop · 2nd December 2020, 01:55 PM

Dear Thomas,

lovely piece, especially the glossy patina on the ivory. I'v seen this type in pictures and what I wonder about; is it easy to hold - functionally?

Most handles are not only beautiful but also very ergonomical, they just fit into the hand in a natural way. On this type from the short and thick dimensions it looks somewhat awkward.

Kind regards,
Eric

kai · 2nd December 2020, 02:44 PM

Hello Eric,

These are high status pieces: The bigger the better! The main design constraint seems to be that the hilt does not get so large that the whole piece tends to fall out of the sash...

There are Karo examples with somewhat smaller hilts that can be held a bit better - I believe these are resulting from lesser funds rather than practical reasons though.

Regards,
Kai

Klop · 2nd December 2020, 04:33 PM

Hello Kai,

thanks, more bling than practicality it is. And indeed all that weight at the top becomes a risk at some point.

Kind regards,
Eric.

kai · 2nd December 2020, 09:33 PM

Hello Eric,

Aside from signalling status, these pieces seem to have been mainly ceremonial. The higher up in the hierarchy the less likely you are needing a blade in a pinch...

The blades tend to be of high quality though; I can easily imagine them mainly put to real use at cutting areca nuts for betel chewing in a ceremonial setting. I haven't come across any good early sources on usage though.

Regards,
Kai

2nd December 2020, 02:44 PM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Eric, These are high status pieces: The bigger the better! The main design constraint seems to be that the hilt does not get so large that the whole piece tends to fall out of the sash... There are Karo examples with somewhat smaller hilts that can be held a bit better - I believe these are resulting from lesser funds rather than practical reasons though. Regards, Kai Last edited by kai; 2nd December 2020 at 06:03 PM.

28th November 2020, 10:35 PM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Congrats, Thomas - a really nice piece! (Please let me know whenever you decide to part with it... ) Any provenance? The origin is Karo Batak, of course. The inlay will most likely be suasa, indeed. (Probably with really low gold content.) Regards, Kai

2nd December 2020, 01:55 PM	#2
Klop Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 63	Dear Thomas, lovely piece, especially the glossy patina on the ivory. I'v seen this type in pictures and what I wonder about; is it easy to hold - functionally? Most handles are not only beautiful but also very ergonomical, they just fit into the hand in a natural way. On this type from the short and thick dimensions it looks somewhat awkward. Kind regards, Eric

2nd December 2020, 04:33 PM	#4
Klop Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 63	Hello Kai, thanks, more bling than practicality it is. And indeed all that weight at the top becomes a risk at some point. Kind regards, Eric.

2nd December 2020, 09:33 PM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Eric, Aside from signalling status, these pieces seem to have been mainly ceremonial. The higher up in the hierarchy the less likely you are needing a blade in a pinch... The blades tend to be of high quality though; I can easily imagine them mainly put to real use at cutting areca nuts for betel chewing in a ceremonial setting. I haven't come across any good early sources on usage though. Regards, Kai