What's going on here (Batak)?

[Ian]

Jeff, thanks for posting this very interesting item. You have been doing some homework on it, obviously, and these cross-cultural pieces are always interesting. I don't find the term "tourist" at all pejorative when quality materials are employed and there is obvious skill in the craftsmanship.

[werecow]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Jeff,
No, not any genuine Aceh blade (unless it is a full-size peudeueng panjang that got cut down and strongly modified - the wide fuller running through to the tip of the blade might be a hint on this). Aceh trade blades are being found in Batak dress, too.

However, these Aceh-style blades also got copied by local bladesmiths. While obviously based on Aceh style, these Batak blades tend to exhibit distinct features. They are also put in local fittings - again, more or less based on Aceh style with more obvious local twists...

The bit of the "crown" (or is it a flower?) sticking out of the resin does look a bit like the ones on a sikin panjang, so that would suggest a reshaped blade. But it's a little thicker than the examples I could find just now, especially the flared section at the base of the blade sticking out of the "crown". Not sure what the normal range is on these.