Description:

A LONGKNIVE ''PISO GOLUK TAKA'' OR ''PISO KALASAN''
Indonesia, North Sumatra, Batak (Karo-Batak)
L. 82 cm
A prestigious long knife (piso) of the Karo-Batak people of North Sumatra. The slender, strong, slightly curved back blade is single-edged and forged from folded steel with a visible texture. The neck of the blade tapers to a large thickness, ensuring a good fit in the sheath. The handle is made of dark patinated ivory and depicts a crouching figure in an adorant posture with raised hands and a traditional long hairstyle, suggesting ancestral or priestly status. The figure is crowned by another, similarly designed figure with a silver cap decorated with filigree, symbolising the ascending soul. The base of the handle sits in an octagonal setting made of silver and copper, typical craftsmanship of the Karo people, who are famous for their silversmiths. Silver ferrules run around the dark hardwood scabbard body, which is appliquéd with filigree wire rings and twisted wires. The ivory scabbard mouth shows a series of phallic figures, indicating the knife's special significance as a votive offering at wedding ceremonies, with an explicit wish for fertility. The inserted scabbard foot is also made of patinated ivory (gading), which, according to Indian tradition, symbolises wealth and success. Hence the name piso gading, "ivory knife", as a reference to the importance of the knife as an object of prestige. Such knives are exchanged between the clan halves, usually as a morning gift to the bride's father or uncle. In exchange, the female line receives precious scarves, for which the Batak are equally famous.The Batak are organised according to matrilineal law, i.e. descent and inheritance rights are calculated via the mother line. In the past, they were regarded as feared, well-organised warriors who were said - whether wrongly or not has not been fully researched - to engage in ritual cannibalism. The name Batak (as "Batta") already appears in Marco Polo's reports. It comes from the Arabic and means "pork-eaters" in a somewhat derogatory way, probably also because the Batak, in contrast to the lowland inhabitants, remained largely Hindus and animists or retained their habits even as Muslims.The Batak people, who according to the Indonesian census number around 8 million in total, are divided into six large ethnic groups whose original settlement area is on Samosir, the island in Lake Toba. The Karo-Batak, the second largest group after the Toba, live north of the lake in the highlands of Kabanjahe and Berastagi. Compared to the other peoples of Indonesia, the Batak came under the influence of Dutch colonial rule very late. It was not until 1907, with the death of the charismatic Batak priest-king Singamangaraja XII, who led a long and successful guerrilla war against the Dutch, that the Dutch gained sovereignty over the Batak for a few more years until independence. The Batak are famous for their monumental clan houses, some of which are recognised as World Heritage Sites.
From an old German private collection, assembled since the 1950s - The EU trade certificate for the sale of this lot is available - Minor traces of age

Lit.: Gintings, D. (1993).: The Society and Culture of the Batak Karo. Medan. - IFICAH (2018): Die Verwandtschaft im Nacken. Ahnenkult und Klingenkunst der Batak auf Nord-Sumatra. International Foundation of Indonesian Culture and Asian Heritage. Hollenstedt.

Langmesser „piso goluk taka“ oder „piso kalasan“
Indonesien, Nord-Sumatra, Batak (Karo-Batak)
L. 82 cm
Ein prestigeträchtiges Langmesser (piso) der Karo-Batak auf Nord-Sumatra. Die schlanke, starke, leicht geschwungene Rücken-Klinge ist einschneidig und aus gefaltetem Stahl mit sichtbarer Verarbeitungstextur geschmiedet. Der Klingenhals läuft zu großer Stärke aus und ermöglicht so einen guten Sitz in der Scheide. Der Griff ist aus dunkel patiniertem Elfenbein und zeigt eine hockende Figur in Adoranten-Haltung mit e

Accepted Forms of Payment:

MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do not offer inhouse packing and shipping services.

We are pleased to provide you with the following list of transport companies, which we can recommend based on many years of good experience and a longstanding cooperation. We kindly ask you to contact the companies directly to negotiate the terms of costs, insurance and the organization of the transport.

Export to countries outside the EU are subject to the restrictions of the UNESCO convention from 1970 and the European Agreement for the Protection of Cultural Heritage from 1993. Moreover, the cites regulations are applicable. Objects with materials such as ivory or tortoise shell require a permission for export into countries outside the EU contract area due to cites regulations. We point out that such a permission is usually not given. For exports within the EU the Act to Protect German Cultural Property against Removal (Kulturgutschutzgesetz) has been in force since 6th August 2016.


Eric Art Services
Beijing/Shanghai/Hong Kong
+86 10 8880 3001 (BJ)
+86 21 3103 2707 (SH)
+852 2204 1888 (HK)
[email protected]


Mailboxes etc. / MBE
Silke Klink & Marco Bittner
Friedrich-List-Str. 8
70771 Leinfelden-Echterdingen
+49 (0) 711 / 41170270
[email protected]


Matthias Fegers
Service for art and trade
Moldenweg 5
21339 Lüneburg
49 (0) 4131 / 727525
[email protected]


MuseumsPartner Kunstspedition GmbH
Pass-Thurn-Straße 25
6372 Oberndorf bei Kitzbühel
+43 5356 6950
[email protected]


A.V.M. Service and Transport
Alexander von Mertens
Römerstraße 32
70180 Stuttgart
+49 (0) 172 / 71 36 254
[email protected]

June 11, 2024 9:30 AM CEST
Stuttgart, Germany

Nagel Auction

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 32.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
0 € 19 € 5 €
20 € 179 € 10 €
180 € 299 € 20 €
300 € 359 € 30 €
360 € 399 € 40 €
400 € 899 € 50 €
900 € 999 € 100 €
1.000 € 1.999 € 100 €
2.000 € 2.999 € 200 €
3.000 € 3.599 € 300 €
3.600 € 3.999 € 400 €
4.000 € 9.999 € 500 €
10.000 € 19.999 € 1.000 €
20.000 € 29.999 € 2.000 €
30.000 € 35.999 € 3.000 €
36.000 € 39.999 € 4.000 €
40.000 € 99.999 € 5.000 €
100.000 € 199.999 € 10.000 €
200.000 € + 20.000 €