Lot 173:
Rare Indonesian Nias BALATO Sword ~ Dayak Headhunters ~
A rare sword of the Nias islands near Sumatra, this sword is called a balato and isof the classic balato form but with the distinctive carved hilt in the form of a dragonhead called alasara. The balato is the classic and well recognized Nias warriors sword and comes in a varietyof shapes.This relatively typical balato has a form that relatively closely follows the lasara (dragon head)hilt form and which can be seen illustrated in Modigliani (1890) and Fischer (1909). While theclassic balato is considered to be a traditional headhunters sword the more common domesticknife of the Nias takes a similar form. The headhunters swords are distinguished by their longerblades, such as this example. The blades are generally not laminated and can have variousforms, the common factors are: a single edge that starts only a few centimeters from the hilt andmore or less widens to the point.The lasara carved hilts have been identified as multiple types of creatures. Some have likened itto the fantastic lawôlô bird (Horner 1849); other as the niôbawa lawôlô , an animal whosefunction is to increase the strength of the sabres owner (Schroder 1917); Modigliani sees aboar’s head (1890); others interpret it as a Chinese dragon; and others as a makara, a dragonfish-elephant from Hindu-Javanese mythology and found throughout S.E. Asia (Viaro 2001).However, it is true regardless of the creature designation, the hilts were supposed to have aprotective function (lawôlô 
for the owner of the sabre.The Schmiedt Collection example has a well carved and nicely patinated handle with a sculpturalcreature design carved in the pommel. The curled whorls likely represent boars tusks while thecreature sitting astride the pommel is called a bechu zocha, a spirit who hunts and feeds on men’sshadows, just as men feed on pigs. By sitting astride the pommel which is a representation of ananimal and biting the boar’s head, he takes on the role of a man. This image can be regarded as atalisman working against the misfortunes that the bechu zocha spirit would ordinarily bring(Brenner-Felsach 1998). Because of the spirit’s thirst for blood and its prominence on theheadhunter’s sabre, the image was believed to have increased the warrior’s strength.The scabbard is of two pieces of wood secured with strips of rattan, while the talismanic basket, raga ifoboaya, at the top of the scabbard is of classic shape and decorated with animal teeth in acurved form. The blade now pitted from age.Balato are difficult to date accurately, but considering the style of carving of the hilt and theoversized proportions of the bekhu figure this example likely dates to the early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 28" Blade Length : 18 1/2" References:1. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2001) Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago.Leiden: Art Books2. Viaro, M. A. (2001). Ceremonial sabres of nias headhunters in indonesia. Arts EtCultures, 3, 150-171.3. Fischer, H.W. (1909) Katalog des ethnographischen Reichsmuseums- Die Inseln ringsumSumatra, (vol. 4, Leiden)4. Modigiliani, E. (1890) Un viaggio a Nias.5. Brenner-Felsach, J.F. von (1998). Eine Reise nach Nias, die Indonesien expedition 1887,edited by Reinhold Mittersakschmöller. Vienna:6. Schroder, E. E.W. S. (1917) Nias: Ethnographische, geographische en historischeAanteekeningen en Studiën. 2 vols. Leiden: Brill, 7. Horner, J. J. (1840). â€Å“Batoe-Eilanden, ten Westen van Sumatra gelegen.â€Â In Tijdschriftvoor Neerlandâ€â„¢s Indie. Batavia, Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at info@sofedesignauctions.com
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