Balinese Damascened Short Sword with Carved Hilt

This fine sword is from Bali, in what is now Indonesia. It comprises a spear or lance head (tombak), a superbly carved marine tusk hilt, and a wooden scabbard with silver mounts.

The blade and the hilt date to at least the 18th century. The scabbard is probably later.

The hilt is the main attribute here – it is finely carved with floral scrolls that are typical of earlier Balinese carving, and it has the most wonderful wear and honeyed patina. It does have an old but stable shrinkage-related split.

The blade is likely to be from a spear or lance, probably from one of Bali’s many palaces. It is doubled edged and has a well-defined damascene orpamor. The grip of the blade is covered in chased and engraved silver sheet which has been finely decorated with bands of typically Balinese floral and geometric motifs.