Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 10:00 PM UTC
Lot 99:
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. From the 16th century onward, Banjarmasin was one of the chief sources of pepper in South East Asia during the period 1700-1747. The need for this commodity attracted the English, Dutch, Chinese and Indonesianmerchants to the area. The longstanding Muslim linkages also brought traders in contact withOttoman Empire traders who would have carried their traditional scimitars, termed kilichs. Allof these influences can be seen in the beladah belabang.The blade nonetheless maintains as a well-balanced slashing weapon and is adapted in form andsize for the Malay people. The production of these swords and blades was described byHendriks (1842) where he describes the smith’s techniques as the blades were polished oncompletion with stones, oil and a fragment of shark skin.This example in the Schmiedt Collection has sustained some damage to the handle which ismissing the quillon opposite the crossguard, but is in otherwise good condition. The blade isdouble fullered and has a flattened tip with a floral design indicative of other Bornean weaponsof the Dayak and which betrays the local influence on the sword which otherwise has elementsof European and Islamic design.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 29 3/4" Blade Length : 24 1/2"References:1. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2001) Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago.Leiden: Art Books2. Deutsche Klingen Museum (2019). Steel and Magic Edged Weapons of the MalayArchipelago. Deutsche Klingen Museum Solingen.3. 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 info@sofedesignauctions.com
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