Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 115:
A rare form of a classic Indonesian sword, called the beladah belabang, thisexample in the Schmiedt Collection has the classic form of the sword with the pistol grippedhandle and the upswept blade that has close parallels with Turkish and Islamic swords of similarform and shape and which are likely the inspiration of this sword form but which are alsoinfluenced by European swords with the crossguards. This example is interesting for twodeviations including a chain link crossguard, also mainly found on European swords, and thenon-standard beladah belabang blade, instead approximating the style of blade found on the cojang, a different sword.These swords are most closely associated with Banjarmasin on the island of Kalimantan. Fromthe 16th century onward, Banjarmasin was one of the chief sources of pepper in South East Asiaduring the period up to the mid-18th century. The need for this commodity attracted the English, Dutch, Chinese and Indonesian merchants to the area. The longstanding Muslim linkages alsobrought traders in contact with Ottoman Empire traders who would have carried their traditionalscimitars, termed kilichs. All of these influences can be seen in the beladah belabang.The blade is a well-balanced slashing weapon and is adapted in form and size for the Malaypeople. The production of these swords and blades was described by Hendriks (1842) where hedescribes the smith’s techniques as the blades were polished on completion with stones, oil and afragment of shark skin.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is in fine condition with a well-toned wooden grip, crossguard with no damage and a finely incised iron blade of interesting form. The blade isstraight with a rounded edge, similar to a co jang blade. The blade at the forte marked in Latinletters "KT 5".Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 26 1/4" Blade Length : 21 3/4" References:1. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2001) Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago.Leiden: Art Books2. Hendriks, A. (1842) Iets over de wapenfabricatie op Borneo. Bataviaasch Genootschapvan Kunsten en Wetenschappen, Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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