Timor Slingshot

[Bill Marsh]

For all you woodchucks and others who like carving

I really like the carving that "primitive" people put into their weapons and everyday artifacts. Here is a slingsot / catapult purportedly from the Indonesian island of Timor.

I do not know the age, but it is from an old collection and has wonderful patina.

I like the representations of the male (picture #2) and the female (picture #3) on the sides of the handle. Balance of male and female supporting the piece. Symbolism depicting male and female was very important to the animistic / pagan societies. This went far deeper than mere fertility.

Tantra also means overcoming obstacles.

The fascinating lines on the piece are a common motif in Timor, and also the Dayak and Batak peoples. Look like whorls of energy to me. I wonder what they see?

Early, pre-contact pieces from animistic tribes, whether African, Indian, Indonesian or other cultures, were made for a purpose that was not considered merely art by the people who made them. The symbols were there to make the pieces more effective tools, weapons, communications devices with spirits -- even gods. Not decorations.

It is likely that the carver thought that the intricate carving made this piece a more powerful weapon. He certainly spent a lot of time and effort on it.

8 inches (20.32 cm) Tall

 

[Nasty]

Old stuff is fascinating...thanks for sharing your find!

 

[Coldwood]

Very interesting. What's the date on this piece, and what were they using for rubber bands?

Ooops, sorry, you already said you didn't know the age. I'm curious how it was used...maybe like an atlatl?

 

[Fiddleback]

Dang. What a fine piece Bill!!!

 

[cliff355]

Very nice carving. If it pre-dates inflatable tires and surgical tubing, I wonder what that ancient carver used for slingshot rubbers though.

 

[Bill Marsh]

Very nice carving. If it pre-dates inflatable tires and surgical tubing, I wonder what that ancient carver used for slingshot rubbers though.

Did a little research on history of rubber. The earliest rubber known was in 1600BC Pre-Columbian South America. This was mostly used in making balls for games. The spanish (many years later) were so fascinated by how a rubber ball bounced that they thought these balls might be "enchanted by spirits."

Best I can find rubber was originally found only in Brazil. Later the Dutch began to grow it in other places, but in Indonesia it was planted in the early 1900s.

First, I would doubt that the Timor(ians) would have had rubber. Can find no evidence of it being grown anywhere near there.

Second, Timor is and was a very poor country, so rubber importation was not too probable.

Third, the person who carved this quality piece, I feel, was more of a 'tribal guy' and a craftsman who probably used what he could find and had not 'bought into' a monetary system. So he probably worked with what he could get his hands on. Maybe it had some kind of animal sinew.

Usually as a culture began to respond to pressures to Westernize, they had to buy into monetary systems, ie, make money to buy things. This almost invariably meant a decrease in quality because they were no longer making things for their spiritual value, but for sale.

One of the things I think make the HI pieces so attractive and powerful is that the kamis are certainly making these with a spiritual basis as well as for sale. Working on auspicious days, prayers and blessings infuse HI pieces and make a felt difference.

The quality is importaant, but there are other people making quality khuks. The reason I buy HI products is because they not only have quality, they also have soul!

 

[munk]

So when is HI going to make slingshots?



munk

 

[Steely_Gunz]

"15" 57oz sling shot by Royal Kami Bura. 1.5" thick with a 60" rubber band to support western arm span. Comes with this wonder 8lb shotput. YBB"

SOLD TO BRUISE

Jake

 

[munk]

I'm certain he'll be able to hire someone who can pull that back on the slingshot.



munk

 

[C.S. Graves]

Very interesting bit of carving there... I hope someone used it to ding Suharto upside the head with!

 

[Bri in Chi]

Sling shot? I don't think so. Artifacts like this are very interesting and this one is very beautiful. What it was used for, is beyond my knowledge.

 

[Bri in Chi]

So when is HI going to make slingshots?



munk

Never, I hope. Khukris are what the HI kamis do best, and I'd hate to see them reduced to making frying pans, gee-gaws, and whirligigs. I hope they never loose their focus. Khukris are what they they are about, and they should stick with their thing.
Brian

 

[Ad Astra]

"Gee whiz, Mr. Wilson... "

Dennis the Menace of the South Seas...


Mike

 

[TWBryan]

Ceremonial 3 stooges eyeball-poker?

TWBryan

 

[kronckew]

if you had two you'd have a nice desk stand for an hi tulwar or katana.

 

[Bill Marsh]

if you had two you'd have a nice desk stand for an hi tulwar or katana.

Good idea. The more I look at this piece, the more I think it is something other than a slingshot. For one thing, you cannot hold it in your hand properly. The "grip" is too wide.

A weapon holder might be a good useage. However I am still thinking it might be an altar piece or some kind of fetish. Maybe something to hold a weapon on an altar?

 

[cliff355]

That thing looks like more of an oarlock to me, but IIRC the people of Timor used canoe paddles rather than oars. It might have guided some type of ruddering paddle at the stern but who knows. It is a nice piece whatever it is though.