Rare Rentong Knife with Black Coral Handle

Black corals (or thorn corals), are  deep-water corals recognized by their jet-black or dark brown color. They has been associated with mystical powers and medical  properties in Indonesian Chinese and Hawaiian cultures. The use of black coral as knives or swords handle is very scarce, mainly due to its softness and rarity. Not many exemplars are known. Few Sewar daggers associated with royal courts in Indonesia and several Piha Kaetta knives from Sri-Lanka

The  very fine Rentong  knife offered here is from the Acehnese people, North West Sumatra. The blade is long down curving and single edged with steel bolster, forged from laminated steel. The hilt is a single piece rounded black coral with classical gold collar and pommel  deeply engraved and enameled  with green and black colors. The scabbard is finely engraved wood.

Blade . 9 1/2  inches long.  Total length 16 inches. Very good condition. Minor losses to the pommel gold mount. Very impressive item. The second half of the 19th C

Provenance: Collection of a Dutch noble family. Brought back to the Netherlands by an officer in the former Dutch-Indies between 1902-1912, and later in Sabang (Sumatra) 1912-1928.

Price: On request