Timor sword
| Timor sword | |
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| Information | |
| Weapon type: | sword |
| Use: | weapon |
| Region of origin / author: |
Indonesia , ethnic groups from different islands of the Lesser Sunda Islands |
| Distribution: | Indonesia |
| Overall length: | about 72 cm |
| Blade length: | about 50 cm |
| Handle: | Metal, wood |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Timor sword is a weapon of various ethnic groups from the Indonesian West Timor and other parts of the Lesser Sunda Islands ( Alor , Pantar , Roti , Sawu , Wetar ).
description
Warrior from the Kupang region with his weapons, including a Timor sword (1875)
The Timor sword has a straight, single-edged blade. The blade widens from the handle to the location . Most blades are made of Damascus steel . The place is rounded and shaped like the place of Kampilan . The handle has no guard and is made of horn. The pommel is carved in the shape of a stylized head, has a triangle shape and is decorated with goat hair . In the middle of the booklet the shape of an eye, a flower or a rosette is carved out. The scabbards are made of wood and are wrapped in rattan . There are many versions of this sword that are made and used on different parts of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The variants from the islands of Pantar, Alor and Wetar are rare. The top part of the knob is flatter and has a stepped pattern. The swords from Pantar usually have a rosette, those from Alor a circle and those from Wetar a diamond-shaped pattern. The swords are classified according to the respective handle types:
- Type a) Buffalo horn handle with straight grip. The pommel is designed in the shape of a triangle. In the middle of the pommel there is a rosette or flower. The bevelled sides of the pommel have holes in which natural or colored goat hair is inserted. The upper part, the middle part and the lower end part of the handle are decorated with geometric patterns (s-shaped, ring-shaped, linear). Rare versions have a slightly curved top edge of the pommel and are decorated with a stair railing-like pattern.
- Type b) From the islands of Pantar, Alor and Wetar. Variants of a). The booklets are more inclined (tilted) than those of the a) types. On Alor and Wetar the triangular pommel runs in line with the blade, on Pantar in a curve towards the edge of the blade. The swords of Pantar are much longer than those of Alor and Wetar, while the point on the pommel is more blunt. The eye on the booklet is designed as a rosette or flower. The booklets are decorated with tufts of hair, but less often than in the a) versions. The carvings are finer. The blades are made on site and are always straight, can be wider towards the site and the site is curved towards the back. The sheaths are made of wood, in two parts and are held together with rattan. The end of the scabbard is made of wood and bent. On Alor and Wetar these parts are decorated with carvings of bird feathers and curls. These types of swords are also called "rugi".
- Type c) From Central Timor. The booklet has the shape of a stylized bird or rooster head. It is slightly curved towards the cutting edge and ends in a rounded bird's head. The blunt beak forms the protruding part of the booklet. The staple is shaped like a cockscomb. In some specimens, the crest is so strongly formed that it encloses the entire head. A silver coin is often used for the eye in the middle of the notebook. The blades were imported from England , Portugal and the Netherlands . The sheaths are in two parts and are generally held together with silver-colored metal strips. Today aluminum is used for fastening. The sheaths are narrower at the bottom than at the top, but can become wider at the vaginal mouth. At the mouth of the scabbard, the scabbards are just as wide as the hilt at the transition point to the blade.
- Type d) From southwest Timor in the area around Camplong and Niki-Niki . The booklet depicts stylized animals. The handle area is round or oval and slightly thicker at the transition to the blade. There is a metal strip attached to many models that is used for reinforcement. The handle is curved from the animal's head towards the blade. The bend is up to 90 degrees. The blades are often short to very short and often consist of reworked saber blades. However, straight or only slightly curved blades are also used. The sheaths are made of wood, are in two parts and are held together with sheet metal strips made of silver-colored metal or sheet brass. The vaginal mouth is triangular on the cutting side and often flared into a V shape. With this type, a belt can be attached to the widest part of the vagina. the belt runs over the shoulder and the sword is carried below the armpit.
- Type e) From the islands of Sawu and Roti. The handle is made of horn, but more yellowish than black. The handle is noticeably short, the transition to the blade is wide. The pommel is flat, almost square and looks like a flag. There are several V-shaped indentations on the side. Natural or colored goat hair is usually attached to the narrow sides of the booklet. The entire booklet is decorated with carvings. A raised circular shape is carved in the middle, with a protruding point in the middle. The blades are of local origin and always straight. The sheaths are made of wood and are in two parts. They are connected with rattan. The rattan wrap can be continuous or divided by carved areas. The mouth of the vagina is made wide and is often wider than the diameter of the handle. The mouth of the scabbard is decorated with the same carvings as the handle and is also equipped with the "eye". The local area is bent in the direction of the blade and decorated with carvings. It is called "Hemola" on Sawu and "Tafa" on Roti.
See also
literature
- Albert G. van Zonneveld : Traditional weapons of the Indonesian archipelago. C. Zwartenkot Art Books, Leiden 2001, ISBN 90-5450-004-2 , pp. 137-139, image 554.
Web links
Commons : Swords - Collection of images, videos and audio files
