PODANG, Toba Batak people
Item #W0233
This listing is a collaboration with Peter Dekker, owner of Peter Dekker's Mandarin Mansion, Antique Arms and Armor.
PRICE: Not Available
Overall length: 70.9 cm / 27.9 inch
Weight without scabbard: 713 grams
Blade length: 56 cm / 22 inch
Blade thickness: 5.5 mm at the base, 5 mm (middle), 3 mm near tip
Bade width: 27 mm (base), 26 mm (middle), 21 mm (tip)
Extremely rare to find museum quality Podang, Toba Batak, early 1900's, with nice old patina.
Hilt:
Cast brass handle.
The hilt is representing a kneeling figure, fingers pointing downwards, and thumbs pointing upwards.
The figure is adorned with bracelets and an elaborate necklace. In the open cup there is a bird present.
The crossguard is in the typical podang shape, and the langets fits into an openworked space of the scabbardmouth.
Scabbard:
Wooden scabbard, held together with four brass bands.
The brass scabbardmouth and endpiece are decorated and the entrance has a space where the langets of the hilt fit in.
The brass chain is still intact and present.
The end piece is decorated with a circular motif on each side, and an ornamental three dimensional finial at its end, consisting of four "S" motifs.
Blade:
Beautiful old forged blade, with a clear pattern visible.
The blade is double grooved on each side, meeting at the tip.
Additional info:
The provenance of this podang is of an American collection.
Two remarkable similar examples are illustrated in van der Tuuk's "Bataksch-Nederduitsch woordenboek", of 1861. (See illustration depicted on the right).
A similar example is in the former Tropenmuseum collection (now "Stichting Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen"), collectionnumber TM-A-3406, collected between 1852-1857, former collection "Koninklijk Zoologisch Genootschap Natura Artis Magistra".
Note:
The quality of this podang is of museumquality and beyond, and by far the best one we now of.
