Kastane
The Kastane is a type of sword from Ceylon ( now Sri Lanka). It has a single-edged, relatively short blade, which is usually slightly curved.
Description
Characteristic of the Kastane are elaborate knobs in the form of lions' heads (the lion is considered a mythical ancestor of the Ceylonese and is a symbol of majesty and power ) or heads of mythical animals ( makara ) and the use of the most valuable materials for the magazine ( wood, horn, tortoiseshell, silver, gold, jewelry and precious stones ). The sheaths are usually made of wood or horn. The blades have up to four hollow sections. Most Kastane are of extremely high quality craftsmanship, which points out that they served as Zeremonialschwerter and as representative symbols of the Ceylonese kings and dignitaries.
It seems that the earliest Kastane have arisen only after the encounter with Europeans in the 16th century and that they must be regarded as imitations of brought by the Portuguese on the island of Renaissance weapons. Most blades come from Europe and bear the stamp of the Dutch East India Company.