Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 128:
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. In the past, the majority of the native people living in the island of Kalimantan, theDayak, were animists in belief. The most widely commented on practice of the Dayak was theirancient tradition of headhunting practices and which was conducted by the use of the Mandau.As a result Mandau were crafted with attention to detail and ritual materials. Sacred kinds ofwood from specific forest trees were used for carving the hilt and features of the mandau.They are distinguished by a set of similar features, all varying in the level of quality of theconstructions, materials, and workmanship. The Mandau blade has a convex shape on one sideand somewhat concave on the other. The blades are often made of tempered metal and in somecases 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.This example in the Schmiedt Collection has nicely carved hilt. The blade is a simple style withthe blade tip most closely related to the style called leng-ook-monong based on research from1888 from the Dutch resident in Koetei, where the Kayan tribe made mandaus of this form andstyle (Tromp 1888). The original scabbard is well made, bound with rattan and covered inanimal fur, and includes a piso raut side knife used for wood and rattan carving. The flat slope of the blade in this example, cut in the form, according to Shelford (1901), transcribing the Kajamans of the Belaga district is also referred as song bila, referring to thesmooth slope of the blade.Dating to the first half of 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 26 1/2" Blade Length : 19 1/4" 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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