Knife or sword

Title

Knife or sword

Year/Period

1824

Region

Cianjur, West Java

Object Type

knife weapons, presentation pieces, knife weapons, sheaths (cases)

Material

wood (plant material), silver (metal), steel (alloy), buffalo horn, rattan

Technique

woodworking, assembling (additive and joining process), metalworking, silversmithing, inscribing

Dimension

Object size: 57.2 x 8.5 x 4 cm

Accession No.

2012-00521

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

This knife is in the traditional style of the West Javanese or Sundanese people but shows considerable Western influence in its design. It was made in Cianjur, (spelled Tjiandjoer – the old Dutch spelling). This is an early, dated example of presentation knives made mainly for Dutchmen and other Westerners. The knife is inscribed with the name of Robert van Der Capellen, who served as the Resident of the Preanger Regency in the early 19th century. His elder brother was Governor General of the East Indies from 1816 until 1826.