Stock No..
s2394

Kelantan Keris Pandai Saras
A unique provenanced example
late 19th century

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A very special Kelantan Keris Saras with written provenance. Personal collection.

This keris is currently undergoing paper conservation to preserve the provenance, and complete restoration of its dress, blade and silver pendokok.

My thanks is extended to Shahrial Tahar for facilitating the translation of the Jawi scribed paper tag, and to those who provided discussion, insights and translation possibilities.

I have been fortunate enough to obtain several keris over the years, each with pasted paper tags attached to the Sampir.

In this instance, the tag to the left face of the sampir is largely unreadable. It is my hope, that through proper museum cleaning and conservation that further details may come to light.
All that can currently be read on this tag is "3rd of June 1914". What this date refers to is uncertain. I suspect it was the dated it was confiscated and entered police inventory during the British colonial rule of the area. It may also represent a later date that it was taken from Malaysia and entered in to a British collection.

The pasted tag to the right face of the Sampir contains a short direct amount of important detail. Through the help of colleagues and collectors, namely Mr Zaid Sulaiman, Nik Nizam Nasir, Azizi Che Hamid and Matt Said. The following translation has been put together.
"A keris owned by a pious person by the name of Semail/Ismail Bin Samad from Simpangan Village". There is some conjecture about the accuracy of this with the Jawi words "This keris belong to orang salah (guilty)" also being seen within.
For a stylistic perspective and that it was confiscated, likely by the local police of Tumpat, that the translation does read, "A keris owned by a dangerous (guilty) person by the name of Semail/Ismail Bin Samad from Simpangan Village".

Also of importance, as noted by Mr Zaid Sulaiman, this style of Jawi is unique to in the 1910-20s. This does cloud the 1914 dates on the left.

Simpangan Village lays on the Golok River, on the Thailand Malaysian boarder, on the northern edge of the greater Tumpat Provence., approx 5 kilometers inland from the mouth of the river.

Whilst the Pandai Saras blade is well known within the northern Malay states and Southern Thailand regions, having these details available to collectors, does add a great deal on insight in to the type of dress and blade found in the region circa 1900.

To be updated further shortly

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Stock No..
s2370

A unique presentation knife
Cabatuan Philippines, cica 1900
Balaraw, Plamingko, Plumengko

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A sensational find with outstanding historical provenance.

This very rare knife type remains in very fine condition throughout with only minor losses to some of the finer decorative silver sections.

Overall the length of this Balaraw is 34.5cms long in its sheath, out it is 32cms long with a blade length of 21.5cms.

From a historical standpoint, this knife is at the heart of the First Philippine Republic.

The inscription surrounding the Seal of the First Philippine Republic translates to "Justice of the Peace of Cabatuan, Iloilo". From this I have not delved further into historical data to obtain personal details of this individual. It can be noted from this inscription, that this was a man of rank, a head officer from the town of Cabatuan, likely a judge presiding over the area, or possibly a police chief. As colleagues have noted, Cabatuan was one of the first towns to revolt which ultimately lead to independence and was also a major blacksmithing town.

With reference to the long established black smithing trade within Cabatuan, where this blade is concerned, it has been expertly forged and finished. The left face is flat typical of swords from the region, the right face has a raised central ridge running from the block forte to the needle tip.

The Hilt is dressed in thick silver which has been expertly formed over the tapering octagonal grip with four of the eight faces embellished with large diamond shaped silver sections.
The sheath is made from the same timber as the grip and most of its surface is covered with silver dress to the front, with the rear absent of any decorative features, other than the ends and a central strap.
The front face displays the afore mentioned Officer of Cabatuan presentation surrounding the Seal of First Philippine Republic and supported by a floral wreath. Below are engraved decorative floral panels amongst plain decorative strapping. All silver fittings to the sheath between the throat and drag are secured with silver tacks.

A very rare and beautiful Philippine dagger type with desirable provenance.

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Stock No..
s018

Sadap, Borneo 19th century, High Status Sadap

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An extremely rare and superbly crafted Sadap of the highest quality
Tip to tip this rare sword measures 75cms.
The finely carved timber hilt is covered for the most part with super fine and raised silver work, excuted with the finest details.
Where the blade meets the hilt, the octagonal forte is expertly carved steel approx 27mm wide showing fine chevrons and deep multi chanel fullering with what appears to be leaves opening outward as if growing a blade. The forte narrows to 20mm where it kicks up at what many would consider an unusual angle, though typical for this type of sword.
Each side of the blade has one large and 5 small fullers running the entire length. Also present is gold dot inlay and native designs carved between these dots. The spine also has double fullers running the entire length. The entire blade shows fabulous laminations and in particular, near the forte, the laminations are extremely fine as often seen on famous Samurai swords
A very rare, heavy and fearsome headhunters weapon of the highest quality.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s018

Stock No..
s498

Tibet/Bhutan Helmet
very rare helmet
excellent condition

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A beautiful well preserved Helmet from far eastern region of the Himilayan mountians, Bhutan.

The helm section stands 16cms tall and 22cms across excluding the peaked visor and oroginal attached neck protectors. The construction of the bowl is thick forged steel, it is heavy and of very good quality.
The crown is mounted with a chiseled and gilded plume holder, the visor shares the same chiseled scrolling designs with full gilding in place, all displaying a wonderful old patina.

The fabric attachnents for neck protection are constructed from a thick inner sandwiched between a woven hemp like material and a waxed silk outer. The outer edges are fully and tightly stitched and also waxed. These pieces also retain 99% of the original leather bindings that secure them to the helmet bowl.

Although lacking a padded inner liner and as sometimes seen, a fabric weather protector outer, this is a very nice and rarely seen combat worthy helmet typically associated with Knights or Royal body guards of the Bhutan kingdom and sometimes seen within other regions of the Tibetan Plateau.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s498

Stock No..
s286

Chinese censor
Ivory Guardian Lion
Dated; Qianlong Reign
circa: 1735-1795

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This stunning ivory carving is the work of an expert craftsman.

It weights just under 1kg and shows nice age patina to all surfaces with a warm honey colour to the base. The carving is of a Chinese guardian lion, called Fu (Foo) Lion or lion of Buddha
Atop of the Lion is a blanket or mat with a key pattern border and what appears to be a lotus flower to each side. The applied/inlayed eyes appear to be moon stones or similar, possibly dark pearls.
The censor was most likely one of a mirrored pair when first made and has long since lost its mate.
Loosely translated the four characters surrounding the censor spout read heath, wealth, happiness and fortune.
Bearing the mark of the Qianlong reign, this superb piece remains free from damages and losses.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s286

Stock No..
s355

Bukharan sword
very rare sabre
very fine blade

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A fine and rare Bukharan Sabre with a stunning pattern welded blade of unusual form.
This extemely rare sabre is from Uzbekistan and is historically noted as being of pure Bukharan manufacture with very few examples known for comparative study.
This sabre is just under 91cms long in the scabbard and is just over 89cms out with a 77cm blade.
The blade characteristics of this sabre are rather unusual, having a slightly raised yelman with a beveled edges for exactly half of the blades length.
The blade shows a very well controlled pattern welding design to the surfaces.
The hilt slabs are of burl timber with silver grip straps and large silver rivets. The full tang construction can be noted where it slightly protrudes between the eared pommel.
The scabbard is very basic in nature. the timbers are shaped at the throat to slightly house the grip slabs. The leather is thick, shows wear and is stitched in a basic manner to the rear.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s355

Stock No..
s985

A very fine pair of Bytshak
Bukhara pichoq knives
Very rare Turkistan knives
Central Asian daggers
Named and dated hilts

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A very fine and rare pair of late 19th century Central Asian Pichoq, Bukhara.

The small an important knives are of a style rarely seen being two knives joined to appear as one. Similar method of twin knives is also rarely seen in Caucasian and West Indian weaponry and perhaps known to other regions too.
The knives are mirror images of each other and as seen by the images, connected behind the hilts and released in a sliding manner.
In the leather sheath they are 30cms long. Out of the sheath they are 25cms long with blade 14.5cms long.
The decorative nature of the bolsters and the overall profile are indicative of Bukharan Manufacture. The script however does not appear to be native to the region and is perhaps Armenian influenced. As the method of marriage is known in Georgian Kindjhal seen in the Hermitage Museum and that Armenian or Georgian cutlers were known of in Bukhara is is very possible to be of their hands.
The blades tangs and grips are very finely decorated to all surfaces but the outer edge of the pommel.
The blades are a finely pattern welded type with fine clear longitudinal laminations on the blade faces.

A very fine, rare and important piece of Central Asian heritage. Dated to the 1870s, script not fully translated.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

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Stock No..
s152

Kampilan,
Massive Moro Kampilan
of High Nobility,
ultra rare complete example

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An unique example of a massive Moro Kampilan of high status, attributed to the late US general of Armies, J.J.Pershing.

Measured out of the finely carved scabbard this piece is 116cms long with a very nicely laminated and inlayed blade of 87cms blade. This overall length places this piece at approx 20cms longer than the typical known Kampilan.
The massive and superbly carved hilt and guard remain in outstanding condition, workmanship that can be most appreciated in the viewing of the images rather than written descriptions.
Two most uncommon aspects seen on the hilt area is that of the double iron guard where a single guard is normally seen and also that of 2 Tiger Bells type A and 2 Bells type unknown hanging from the guards. For detailed data on Tiger Bells, please views Elly Hemmes and Fekke de Jager's home page, http://park.org/Guests/Tiger/welcome.htm
Page 57 & 58 of Robert Cato's work "Moro Swords" describes at length the Kampilan scabbard, ranging from the plain pedestrian style mostly seen through to the scabbards of nobility that show decorative sectioning, are "rectangular" in profile that are magnificent coverings that have been artistically decorated with intricate okir carvings throughout as is clearly the case here.

Currently being updated to include supporting data about the inaccuracy of details seen on the collection tag of this Pershing Kampilan through the direction and information provided by Mr Bob Fulton.
It is through this information provided and foot work done by Mr Jeff Pringle that it is very highly propable that this Kampilan is that of one of the three or four Datu's who lost their lives at the battles of Bayan & Pandapatan cotta (1902) and likely as mentioned on the tag, that is was from the Pandapatan Datu himself and was part of the Pershing collection.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s152

 
The Kelling Hall
Collection

The Kelling Hall collection.
Three large Aceh weapons boards being those of Dutch oil industrialist Sir Henri Deterding founder of Royal Dutch Shell

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An important collection of Aceh weaponry from Kelling Hall.

These wonderful old weapon boards have come from the trophy room/sitting room of Kelling Hall.
Two of the three boards can be seen in the upper right hand corner of the sitting room image. Further detail of all three boards seen in the images below. I will be releasing 9 of the 30 items for sale.
All weapons that are sold from these boards will come with a photograph of the sitting room and a photo of the board the item comes from, along with a short history outlining their important historical provenance.

Enquiries most welcome.

Click here for more information on The Kelling Hall Collection

Stock No..
s171

Rencong, stunning gold inlay,
unusual scabbard,
Kelling Hall collection,
board 1 number 1

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A stunning Rencong with gold mask inlay and an unusual scabbard variant, Kelling Hall collection.

This stunning Rencong measures 43cms in the scabbard, 37cms out and excluding the bolster, the blade is 23cms.
To all facets of the octagonal stem ring, partially along the spine and in the small lip of the stem ring, is gold inlay.
The inlay appears to be that of geometric masks.
The blade has a very beautiful duru seuke that flows back towards the hilt. Just forward of the stem ring is 9mm and there is a hollow ground section flowing from the duru seuke up towards the spine and along the blade just below the spine for approx 15cms from the stem ring and the beveled cutting edge flows up to another hollow ground section near the tip of the blade.
The Hilt is a beautiful one piece, two tone Hulu Meucangge type, being of black horn to one side and a green horn to the other side.
The scabbard shows two old working repairs, the first being old rattan binding to the top and the second being a string wrap to the middle.
Floral design and carvings adorn the scabbard to both sides.
Of particular interest is the unusual scabbard throat that rises up and out at a pronounced angle rather than the more commonly seen slight, almost flat curve. The scabbard mouth is also carved.
When sitting in the scabbard, where many Rencong sit mostly within, this piece sits proud with the duru seuke almost completely exposed and all the gold inlay is exposed.
Certainly a Rencong of status and distinction that would have been worn proudly by the owner.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s171

Stock No..
s176

Kedah Keris, Malaysia
Kelling Hall collection,
Board 1 number 6

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A fine origianl Kedah Keris with Jawa Demam hilt, Kelling Hall collection.
A very fine Keris with only a small loss of the bone tip that once was to the base of the scabbard.
In original untouched condition, this Keris measures 47cms and no doubt would have been closer to 50cms with a bone tip present. 45cms out of the scabbard with a 36cms blade in outstanding condition. The blade shows well executed patterns and sports a razor sharp edge.
The Jawa Demam hilt and the scabbard all show beautiful grains within the timber and remian in fantastic condition.
Overall an outstanding untouched Keris that had been sitting silently within Kelling Hall for near 100 years.

All weapons sold from these boards will come with a photograph of the sitting room and a photo of the board the item comes from, along with a short history outlining their important historical provenance.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s171

Stock No..
s177

Keris PanjangKedah, Malaysia
Kelling Hall collection, board 1, number 7

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Keris Panjang, likely Kedah, Malaysia, Kelling Hall collection.

A beautiful and untouched Keris that has sat silently on the walls of Kelling Hall for approx 100 years.
Commonly referred to as an executuion Keris, these Status Keris were both for fighting and execution when called upon.
Overall in the sheath the piece measures 73cms, out it is just under 69cms with a long razor sharp blade of 58cms.
The blade is finely crafted and shows wonderful forging lines to the length of both sides.
Both the Jawa Demam hilt and the scabbard display a nice wood grain, burl in places and the scabbard is finished with a bone insert to the tip, though it may also be ivory.
A nice complete and untouched example of a very rare Malaysian Keris.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s177

Stock No..
s184

Rencong, Akar Bahar hilt,
Kelling Hall collection,
board 2, number 14

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A very rare example of a Rencong with an Akar Bahar Hulu Meucangge hilt, being a nice old and unusual Rencong variant, Northern Sumatra, Kelling Hall collection.

Measuring just over 43cms in the scabbard, just under 35cms out with a blade length excluding the bolster/stem ring of 23cms.
The blade is slender with a downward curve, it is little over 7mm thick in front of the stem ring and is approx 13mm at the hilt. The blade shows a single long scarf weld to one side being along the spines edge.
The Hulu meucangge hilt is of black coral known as Akar Bahar. The coral shows beautiful natural fire reds throughout. Where the natural stems have been removed to obtain the hilt shape, the lower part gives the impression of two large black eyes looking out from the hilt.
The scabbard throat remains full and intact and shows nice old carved decorations. The scabbard shows small ink decoration to three places on one side and a single design to the reverse.
A very rare and fine example of an old Akar Bahar hilted Rencong.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s184

Stock No..
s185

Keris, Malaysian Peninsula,
Kelling Hall collection,
board 2 number 15

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A very nice and hard to find example of a Keris Panjang from the Malaysian Peninsula.
This untouched example is from the Kelling Hall collection.
The overall length of this Keris in the sheath is just under 58cms, out it is just over 53cms with a finely crafted blade of 43cms.
The blade shows beautiful forging lines. It swells towards the middle and tapers to the tip.
The mendak appears to be of pewter and is well cast. The hilt is carved timber showing a beautiful warm glossy patina.
The sheath also shows a wonderful warm old glossy patina and is finished with a bone tip.
A beautiful and fine, untouched Keris example, something seldom seen.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s185

Stock No..
s196

Peurawot, Pinang knife
Extremely fine & rare
Northern Sumatra, Aceh,
Board 3 Kelling Hall, number 26

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A stunning and extremely rare knife from Northern Sumatra, Kelling Hall Collection.

A very rare status knife called a Peurawot. Traditionally these knife types were used to ceremonially to cut Betel nut and distinguish the owner of such a knife.This example measures 35cms long in its sheath, 32csm out and has a blade length of 21cms.
The knife's hilt is of carved horn in Hulu Puntung style with the narrowed and open worked pommel. The grip and fore grip and bound with three simple Suasa collars.
The blade is of a simple forward curving, single edged form with a narrowing waist. With the spine being 7.5mm thick at the base, the Peurawot carries some weight to it.
The sheath type is an exceptional example throughout, from the ergonomics of the form when held with the thumb and forefinger, to the finest Sumatran carving within the bellowing floral motifs and superbly incised ink work to its surfaces. What sets this example apart from most is it sheath, in that the large carved roundel is very rarely seen.

A very fine and rare knife with impeccable provenance.

Please note, all items with the Gallery page are examples from my personal collections. These items are not currently offered for sale but are sometimes released to the For Sale page as tastes and items vary.

Click here for more information on Stock No. s196