Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 93:
A rare form of a classic Indonesian dagger, called the rencong, this example in the Schmiedt Collection has handle in a rare form called a hulu puntung. This form of hilt with atruncated end and carved with leave shaped form is rarely found on the classic Gayo and Acehnese rencong. The blade of this example has the classic shape of the down swept bladewith an inside edge, similar to a Turkish yataghan, while the handle has a fitting in the shape of adouble crown in gold with elements of enamel. The rencong is the traditional weapon of Acehand Acehnese folklore ascribes mystical attributes and supernatural powers. The Acehnese note that the rencong takes the shape of the Muslim invocation, "Bismillaah In the name of God, the merciful and compassionate." While the hilt form of this rencong indicates that it is from the Gayo people who live in the highlands of the Aceh province, the distinct shape elements nonetheless indicate stylistic similarity to the classic Acehnese style rencong. On sight field research has indicated based on professors at the Department of Education and Culture in Aceh, that the component parts of the rencong can be likened to individual letters ofthe formal Arabic script huruf gundul, literally bare lettering, of the phrase Bismillaah: ï· The hilt of the rencong is in the shape of "ba"· The decoration at the base of the hilt is "sin· The blade’s shape is "mim"· The shape of the metal parts at the top of the blade is "lam"· The base of the scabbard has the shape of the letter "ha"· Together, "ba, sin, mim, lam and ha" make up the world, "Bismillaah". The length of most rencongs varies drastically from very short examples of 3-4"- nearly 20" butis distinguished by the shape of the blade, which slightly undulates and is slightly hollowedalong its back. The underside of the blade has a protuberance called Duru Seuke, chiseled like the Keris greneng.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 17 3/4" Blade Length : 11 3/4". Shipping of this lot is within USA ONLY, except CA and NJ. NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.References:1. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2001) Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago. Leiden: Art Books2. Leigh, B. (1989) Hands of Time: The Crafts of Aceh. Jakarta. 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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