A hippopotamus ivory mounted steel dagger (sewar) Sumatra, 19th Century


the single-edged steel blade of slightly curved form with flattened spine, the forte moulded with a band of foliate motifs, a horn ring between the steel and the ivory hilt, the pommel in the form of a clenched fist holding a leaf, the sheath of wood with ivory mounts to top and bottom, the top mount in the form of a scrolling foliate motif 36 cm. long
|PublishedBackman, M., Rare Antique Asian & Colonial Decorative Arts, 2016, p. 32.Hales, R., Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour: A Lifetime's Passion, 2013, p. 120.The fist on the dagger is similar to that on a Portuguese cannon made in Macau in the 16th Century. Known as the Si Jagur Cannon it is now on display in the old city square of Batavia and has been imbued with magical powers associated with fertility. It is likely that the fist on this dagger was intended to have similar talismanic properties.