Balatos

Ian · 21st June 2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I'm no expert but I don't believe the smaller teeth are Boar ; but what the Devil is that large tooth with the huge wierd base shown in the center of the topmost picture .

I think we have a mixture of items here. The small "teeth" could be claws -- they resemble bear claws on one of my Sumatran jimpul. The larger object referred to by Rick looks like a small stag antler. AFAIK there are forest deer throughout SE Asia, but I don't know specifically about Nias.

Ian (two of three)

A Malayan Sun Bear -- endangered specie

micas · 21st June 2006, 03:03 PM

Yup, it's an antler. Don't know from what species though.

The tooth in my hand is hollow btw; so I don't think it's a claw.

I know crocodile teeth is hollow. A Dayak showed me one tooth from a freshwater croc they accidentally caught in a fishing net - in Kalimantan, not Nias.

I wonder which endangered species are represented on this balato

Rick · 21st June 2006, 03:33 PM

They could also be the teeth of small cetaceans such as the Pilot Whale or any of the small toothed whales found in the area .

While we're on the subject of Nias :

http://nias.natmus.dk/photographs.htm

Enjoy the collection ; there are some gems in here for the finding .

Dajak · 21st June 2006, 03:42 PM

Hi How old do you think these bellato s are ???

VVV · 21st June 2006, 04:13 PM

Nice Balatos,

I am traveling at the moment but will have a look when back home if I can find something on Balato Balasala.

Ian, what does a Sumatran Jimpul look like?
Could you please share some pictures?

Michael

micas · 21st June 2006, 04:42 PM

Not sure how old these are. At least the seller had the honesty to say he didn't know either other than to say it's old. The tusks of the 2nd balato are tied to the basket with fishing line so it can't be that old - unless it was just restored that way.

If I had to go out on a limb, I'd say less than 100 and more than 20 years old

VVV · 22nd June 2006, 11:52 AM

Micas,

I went through my reference articles and books on Nias swords but couldn't find the description Balasala mentioned anywhere?
On Balato Tologu it was translated as ceremonial or royal sword. Balato is sword/knife in a generic sense.
I found several swords with the same blade as your Balasala but they were all listed as Tologu (lots of different spellings but I use your original one in this reply).

Michael

21st June 2006, 03:03 PM	#2
micas Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 30	Yup, it's an antler. Don't know from what species though. The tooth in my hand is hollow btw; so I don't think it's a claw. I know crocodile teeth is hollow. A Dayak showed me one tooth from a freshwater croc they accidentally caught in a fishing net - in Kalimantan, not Nias. I wonder which endangered species are represented on this balato

21st June 2006, 03:33 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	They could also be the teeth of small cetaceans such as the Pilot Whale or any of the small toothed whales found in the area . While we're on the subject of Nias : http://nias.natmus.dk/photographs.htm Enjoy the collection ; there are some gems in here for the finding .

21st June 2006, 03:42 PM	#4
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi How old do you think these bellato s are ???

21st June 2006, 04:13 PM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice Balatos, I am traveling at the moment but will have a look when back home if I can find something on Balato Balasala. Ian, what does a Sumatran Jimpul look like? Could you please share some pictures? Michael

21st June 2006, 04:42 PM	#6
micas Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 30	Not sure how old these are. At least the seller had the honesty to say he didn't know either other than to say it's old. The tusks of the 2nd balato are tied to the basket with fishing line so it can't be that old - unless it was just restored that way. If I had to go out on a limb, I'd say less than 100 and more than 20 years old

22nd June 2006, 11:52 AM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Micas, I went through my reference articles and books on Nias swords but couldn't find the description Balasala mentioned anywhere? On Balato Tologu it was translated as ceremonial or royal sword. Balato is sword/knife in a generic sense. I found several swords with the same blade as your Balasala but they were all listed as Tologu (lots of different spellings but I use your original one in this reply). Michael