Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 187:
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 kerisblades, though this is highly uncommon. The hilts are often delicately carved with creatures oranthropomorphic deities.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is an in situ collected example from the WWII periodand was likely a working life machete for the owner. This sword is particularly interesting anddates from one of the latest periods of Dayak headhunting during the Second World War. Thescabbard of this sword marked in ink New Guinea Aug 1944. In July and August 1944, Alliedforces invaded the island of Noemfoor, in Dutch New Guinea (now Papua, in Indonesia). Duringthe battle, Allied forces landed on the island to capture Japanese bases as part of their advancethrough the Pacific towards the Philippines. The island was later used by the Allies to supportoperations around Borneo. Interestingly this sword likely a working life machete has thestandard form of a Mandau with a replacement hilt. However the Dayak are not found in thispart of Indonesia as they are further west on the island of Borneo. This may have belonged to anative of the island or potentially something created and sold to a U.S. GI. The most likelyexplanation is that this was acquired in Borneo but which was mistakenly called New Guinea bythe writer of the inscription.The hilt of this example not finely carved, but overall an original object with an interestinghistory of acquisition.Provenance: In ink on the scabbard written New Guinea Aug 1944.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 31 1/4" Blade Length : 19"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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