Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 39:
A very rare sword of the Nias islands near Sumatra, this sword is called a balato and in the classic form but with the distinctive carved hilt in the form of dog or dragonhead called a lasara. This relatively typical Balato has a form that appears to take less the form of the traditional Lasara (dragon head) hilt and closer to a dogs head and which can be seen illustrated as a less common hilt style in Modigliani (1890). While the classic balato is considered to be a traditional headhunters sword the more common domestic knife of the Nias takes a similar form. The headhunters swords are distinguished by their longer blades, such as this example. The blades are generally not laminated and can have various forms, the common factors are: a single edge that starts only a few centimeters from the hilt and more or less widening to the point. The Schmiedt Collection example has a well carved and nicely patinated handle with a sculptural creature design carved in the pommel. The curled whorls likely represent boars tusks while the creature sitting astride the pommel is called a bechu zocha, a spirit who hunts and feeds on mens shadows, just as men feed on pigs. By sitting astride the pommel and biting the boars head, he takes on the role of a man. This image can be regarded as a talisman working against the misfortunes that the bechu zocha spirit would ordinarily bring (Brenner-Felsach 1998). Because of the spirits thirst for blood and its prominence on the headhunters sabre, the image was believed to have increased the warriors strength. This hilt can also potentially be interpreted as a niobawa bae representing the head of a monkey with a bekhu zocha on its back. The locked teeth of the spirit may it appear aggressive and this form of hilt associated with a monkey allegedly provides the warrior with speed in combat (Van Zonneveld 2001). The scabbard is of two pieces of wood secured with strips of rattan, while the talismanic basket, called raga ifoboaya, at the top of the scabbard is of classic shape and decorated with animal’s teeth.The balato is most classically associated with the headhunting tradition of the Nias. Chiefs paid warriors to perform the task of headhunting task on their behalf and during peacetime, these hired warriors would hide at a bend in the path and take as victim the first person to pass by, whether it be a man, woman, or child. When warriors were unavailable, the chief slave was instead set to the task. The aim of headhunting was to take possession of the dead persons soul, or life-force, and to offer it as a gift to the spirits. In this way, the chief acquired a form of guarantee for his afterlife. A victim’s soul also served as a substitute for a sick mans soul and was used to heal the latter and appease the vindictive spirit, who was thought to have caused the illness. Balato are difficult to date accurately, but this example likely dates to late 19th to early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 28" Blade Length : 26 3/4" 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 Et Cultures, 3, 150-171.3. Fischer, H.W. (1909) Katalog des ethnographischen Reichsmuseums- Die Inseln ringsum Sumatra, (vol. 4, Leiden)4. Modigiliani, E. (1890) Un viaggio a Nias.5. Brenner-Felsach, Joachim Freiherr von. Eine Reise nach Nias, die Indonesienexpedition 1887, edited by Reinhold MittersakschmÃĦller, 171â€â€œ75. Vienna: 1998Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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