Sewar
| Sewar | |
|---|---|
 A Sewar, pre-1887. | |
| Type | Dagger |
| Place of origin | Indonesia (Aceh) |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Acehnese, Gayo, Alas, Minangkabau |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 12–29 cm (4.7–11.4 in) |
| Blade type | Single edge, sometimes double edged |
| Hilt type | Wood, horn, ivory, Bahar roots |
| Scabbard/sheath | Wood, horn, ivory |
Sewar (Sejwa, Sivas, Siwah, Siwai, Siwar, or Siwaz) refers to a dagger of Indonesian origin, typically carried in a belt and used mainly in Sumatra, Indonesia. The blade is also referred to as Sewah by the Gayo people, Seiva by the Minangkabau people, Siva by the Alas people, and Siwaih by the Acehnese people.
Description
The sewar is a short-bladed
Unlike other traditional combat weapons, the sewar's handle lacks a finger guard. Usually a ferrule made of brass is mounted at the base of the handle to better secure the handle and the blade. For ceremonial versions, a ferrule clamp is extremely ornate (Tampo). Its design can be rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or triangular (Glupa). Traditionally the handle is made of wood and often decorated with carvings or metal ornaments. Various versions of the handle are crafted differently, in styles such as the Hulu Boh Glimo or the Akar Bahar.
The sheaths are usually made of wood, with oval-shaped cross-sections, and are decorated with carvings. Expensive versions are often decorated with precious metals or embedded with gems. The sheath consists of two pieces of wood held together with rattan or silver and gold bindings. On one side of the sheath's "throat", where the protrusion of the daggers are visible, more expensive examples are covered with plique-à-jour mountings worked in precious metal and filled with enamel. The Sewar is regarded as outstanding for slashing.[2]
The sewar is similar to the
Culture
Tari Sewah
The Tari Sewah (meaning "Sewah Dance") is a traditional
See also
References
- ^ Centre for Strategic and International Studies (1977). The Indonesian Quarterly, Volume 5, Issues 1-3. Yayasan Proklamasi, Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
- ISBN 978-0-8048-1716-5.
- ISBN 978-90-5450-004-9.
- ISBN 978-979-9341-60-0.
Further reading
- Stone, George Cameron (13 March 2013). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: in All Countries and in All Times. Courier Corporation. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-486-13129-0.
- Adolf Bastian (1996), Indonesia: or, The Islands of the Malay Archipelago, Volume 5, Graham Brash, p. 34, ISBN 978-981-218-059-9
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