Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 108:
A distinctive Bornean sword of the Iban Dayak, called a Mandau or Parang Ihlang, these swords are found throughout institutional and private collections in varying degrees ofquality. They are distinguished by a set of similar features, all varying in the level of quality ofthe constructions, materials, and workmanship. The Mandau blade has a convex shape on oneside and somewhat concave on the other. The blades are often made of tempered metal and insome cases may display a lamellar pattern, similar to the pamor found on Indonesian kris blades, though this is highly uncommon. The hilts are often delicately carved with various carvingdetails varying across the many tribes of the Dayak, but often depict creatures oranthropomorphic deities. The scabbards of some of the finer swords will often depict varioussymbols, and may include various charms include animals teeth, shells, and beads, such as this example.This example in the Schmiedt Collection has nicely carved hilt of a darker material thannormally found Mandau swords. The hilt is inset with shortened tufts of black and grey tintedhair. The blade is a simple style with the blade tip most closely related to the style called long-nabased on research from 1888 from the Dutch resident in Koetei, where the Kayan tribe mademandaus of this form and style (Tromp 1888). The original scabbard is well made, bound withrattan and covered in animal fur, and includes a piso raut side knife used for wood and rattancarving. The blade of this example along the slope with a plain back and no fretwork. Shelford (1901)describes these kinds of slopes as song bang where it is not fretted nor produced into hooks andprojections but plain or excised into a series of short concave curves.Dating to the late 19th to early 20th century, the blade is quite early.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 27 1/2" Blade Length : 20" References:1. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2002). Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago.Koninklyk Instituut Voor Taal Land2. Heppell, M., et al, (2005) Iban Art: Sexual Selection and Severed Heads, C.Zwartenkot/Kit Publishers3. Sellato, B. (ed.), Plaited Arts from the Borneo Rainforest, NIAS Press, 20124. Fischer, H.W. (1909) Katalog des ethnographischen Reichsmuseums- Die Inselnringsum Sumatra, (vol. 4, Leiden)5. Tromp, S.W. (1888) Medeelingen Omtrent Mandaus. Internationales Archiv fÃÆ’¼rEthnographie. Band 1. Pp.22-266. Shelford, R. (1901) A provisional classification of the swords of the Sarawak tribes.Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 31.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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