Rare Battak Sumatran knife lopah petawaran

 A rare Gayo Battak knife Lopeh Petawaran from Northern Sumatra.  Very archaic style knife which lent its general form to the later recong knife with the very curved handle. Showing also its archaic relationship to the kris with a developed guard to the bottom of one side of the blade. The  steel blade of typical shape with a squared off tip, the back edge chiselled with decoration including what appears to be faces. The sheath of darkwood covered with silver sheathing. The blade handle with a ferrule of sawossa, and ornaments of gold (damage), the hilt itslef carved from a silngle piece of horn shaped beautifully in counterbalance with the sheath. 19th century or earlier.