Kurabit
| Kurabit | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Information | |
| Weapon type: | sign |
| Designations: | Kurabit, Kuraibi |
| Use: | weapon |
| Region of origin / author: |
Indonesia , ethnic groups from the Mentawai Islands |
| Distribution: | Indonesia |
| Overall length: | about 115 cm, width about 28 cm to about 36 cm |
| Handle: | Wood |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Kurabit , also called Kuraibi , is a shield from Indonesia.
description
The Kurabit is made of wood. The shield is made of different widths. It starts wide at the top and narrows towards the middle. The middle is widened and then it becomes narrower towards the lower end and ends blunt or pointed. Half a shell of a coconut is attached to the shield in the middle to cover the hole that is made when the handle is carved out. The coconut shell is attached to the shield with rattan ribbons. As a rule, the kurabit is decorated with geometric patterns that are painted on the shield. The paintings are on both sides of the shield and mostly the colors red, black and white predominate. The most common pattern is the spiral (indonian patogalik). But there are also representations of human figures or lizards . The colors are made from natural dyes. The fruit of the Kalumangan tree is used for the color red, and various mixed vegetable juices are used for black. Since the end of headhunting and tribal feuds at the beginning of the 20th century, the karabits have become increasingly rare. Older specimens are much narrower than newer or current specimens. The Kurabit is used by ethnic groups from Indonesia.
Individual evidence
- ^ Albert G. van Zonneveld: Traditional weapons of the Indonesian archipelago. C. Zwartenkot Art Books, Leiden 2001, ISBN 90-5450-004-2 , pp. 76-77.
literature
- George Cameron Stone : A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in all Countries and in all Times. Together with some closely related subjects. With an introduction by Donald J. LaRocca. Dover Publications, Mineola NY 1999, ISBN 0-486-40726-8 , p. 400.
