Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 111:
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 of quality. They are distinguished by a set of similar features, all varying in the level of quality of the 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 carving details 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 various symbols, and may include various charms include animals teeth, shells, and beads.This example in the Schmiedt Collection has a very finely carved hilt seemingly displaying the iconography of the leech, which is traditionally based on scrolls and leech motifs. The leech(lemetek) is associated with blood sucking and was considered an appropriate motif for a weapon. The hilt also inlaid with shortened tufts of black and red tinted hair. The blade is a simple style with the blade tip most closely related to the style called lidjib based on research from 1888 from the Dutch resident in Koetei, where the Kayan tribe made mandaus of this formand style (Tromp 1888).The flat slope of the blade in this example, cut in the form, according to Shelford (1901), transcribing the Kajamans of the Belaga district as song bila, referring to the smooth slope of the blade though in this case cut into a distinctive stepped shape.Dating to the 19th to early 20th century though the blade may date earlier.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 30" Blade Length : 21".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 Publishers 3. 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 Ethnographie. 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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