Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 151:
A distinctive Bornean sword of the Sea Dayak, called a Langgai Tinggang, theseswords are found throughout institutional and private collections in varying degrees of quality.The Langgai Tinggang is practically a niabor with the handle of a parang ilang or mandau. Theterm langgai tinggang means the â€Å“longest tail feather of a hornbill†and refers to a broad groovewhich runs along the posterior part of the blade on each side and which is purported to be featherlike in appearance. This groove runs across to the anterior border just below the rudimentaryfinger guard. This finger guard is not a derivative of the kundieng of the niabor but is a copy ofthe ikang of the parang ilang which constitutes part of a aso dog dragon design. The handle ofthe langgai tinggang does not generally differ from that of the classic mandau.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is likely a mid 20th century example judging by thequality of the hilt, scabbard, and blade. All of these display a lack of facility with the traditionalDayak designs and are out of proportion with traditional swords. The blade is the classicLanggai Tinggang form though without the blade fuller, but inlaid with brass dots and a forgedon brass ikang, or finger guard. The scabbard is made of wood and decorated with carveddesigns showing linked tusks or perhaps derivative of the leech (lemetek) design.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 37 1/2" Blade Length : 25" 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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