Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 176:
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 similar to a niabor but with the handle of a parang ilang. The termlanggai tinggang means the â€Å“longest tail feather of a hornbill†and refers to the blades of theseweapons often having a long groove running along near the spine and which supposedly refers tothe long tail of the hornbill bird. This groove runs across to the anterior border just below therudimentary finger guard which is a copy of the ikang of the parang ilang. The handle of thelanggai tinggang does not generally differ from that of the classic mandau. The blades are oftenmade of tempered metal and in some cases may display a lamellar pattern, similar to the pamorfound on Indonesian kris blades, though this is highly uncommon. The hilts are usuallydelicately carved with various details that vary across the Dayak tribes, but often depict creaturesor anthropomorphic deities.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is likely a later 20th century example judging by thequality of the hilt, scabbard, and blade. The quality of the workmanship and the finish of theblade is rough without the working refinement of pieces built made for use. The blade is theclassic Langgai Tinggang form though without the blade fuller. The scabbard nicely made in theclassic form, mounted in rattan, and with a piso raut side knife used for wood carving and rattancutting.Dating to the first half of the 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 33 1/4" Blade Length : 21 3/4"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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