Chopping weapon with a spike on the back of the curved blade. Black wooden handle decorated with carved rings, possibly turned on a lathe. [LM 25/04/2007]

Collection type: Object
Description: Chopping weapon with a spike on the back of the curved blade. Black wooden handle decorated with carved rings, possibly turned on a lathe. [LM 25/04/2007]
Geographical reference: Malaysia
Asia > South-eastern Asia > Malaysia; northwestern West Malaysia Perak
Cultural groups: Malay
Person: Field collector Hubert John Aloysius Berkeley; PRM source Wolstan Edward Francis Berkeley
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1926
Date collected: 1886 -1926
Acquisition information: Bequeathed: 1945
Materials and processes: Material Wood Plant, Process Forged (Metal), Process Carved, Process Turned
Dimensions: Length: max 570 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1945.6.63
Research and responses: Parang: a large heavy sheath-knife used by the Malays for various purposes, esp. as a weapon.[Source: OED Online] [MR 8/8/2000]
Comparisons to images and descriptions presented by Albert G. van Zonneveld (Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, 2001), this weapon does not appear to be either a parang bengkok or a golok as stated in the display label. It is much more akin to the Javanese or Madurese celurit. I cannot, however, offer any explanation or evidence for the celurit's appearance in the Malay Peninsular where this object seems to have been collected. [HA 04/02/08]

Search terms: Weapon, Tool, Knife

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