Piso Gading Sword of the Toba Batak, Sumatra

One of the rarest form of swords from Sumatra is this sword of the Toba Batak people, also known as “Piso Gading”. A slightly up-swept blade of good thickness. Massive waisted handle with  gadrooned ribs.  Wood scabbard covered with bands of braided rattan strips and leather covered scabbard mouth. As common in these swords, the scabbard is considerably longer than the blade.

Blade 18 inches long,  more than 1/2 inches (13 mm) thick at the forte.  Total length 32 inches. Very good condition. Blackened spots on the blade. Authentic and original 19C.  sword.

For similar swords see also: Albert G. Van Zonneveld “Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago” Fig 421 P. 107, and Achim Sibeth. “The Batak- Peoples of the Island of Sumatra” Fig 212 P. 163

Provenance: IFICAH International Foundation of Indonesian Culture and Asian Heritage, Hollenstedt (Germany).