Title
Sword
Year/Period
1878
Region
Cikeruh, West Java, Indonesia
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 61 x 7.3 x 2.8 cm
Accession No.
2015-00514
Collection of
This short sword, known as a gobang or golok was probably commissioned as a gift for a high Dutch colonial official. It is decorated with unusual 14 karat gold fittings and common European heraldic imagery. Rampant lions hold up a banner inscribed SUMDANG (Soemedang), once the headquarters of the Royal Netherlands Indies Army or KNIL. It was made in a small village called Cikeroh in West Java, a place well known for manufacturing such weapons. These were popular as souvenirs with Dutch soldiers serving in the KNIL.
