Penai Sword of the Toraja

The Torajans are ethnic group from the mountainous region of south Sulawazi Indonesia. the Torajans were mostly Animist but  in the early 1900s Dutch missionaries  worked to convert Torajan highlanders to Christianity. The Penai Sword  is characterized by the peculiar shape hilt and beautifully carved scabbard. The blade has pammor pattern.  The hilt is carved from water Buffalo horn decorated with different colors of braided rattan.  The scabbard is carved wood bounded with rattan. Blade lTotal length 30 inches, blade length 19 inches. Very good condition small losses to the rattan on the handle.

For a similar swords see: A.G.Van Zonneveld Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, page 104.