19th C. Nias Island Steel, Wood & Crocodile Teeth Sword

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Nias Island (off the coast of Sumatra), ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fine example of a sword made for a chief in the aristocratic warrior tradition of Nias. The steel blade, sharpened on one side, has an elegant, straight form; the handle, carved from dark tropical hardwood, features the head of a mythical serpent creature as its pommel. Below that, the handle is wrapped in brass, which matches the eight brass bands that serve as decoration on the hardwood sheath. A large bundle of crocodile teeth, sewn onto a sphere of rattan, sits at the top of the sheath. This type of sword is known as a "Balatu Sala". Size: 26" L (66 cm); 26" H (66 cm) on included custom stand.

See a similar example at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Provenance: private Nevada, USA collection

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#152201 Dimensions: Condition Report: Rich patina on all surfaces. Small chips, nicks, and dings commensurate with age. Several of the brass bands around the sheath have shifted slightly but are still present.