Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 279:
Scarce 19th C. Indonesian Dayak Headhunter’s SUMPITAN Blow Dart Tolor Kalimantan Quiver & Arrows.The blowgun used with poisonous and plain darts was a longstanding weapon ofthe Dayak people. Before extensive contact with the Europeans, the longhouse blowpipe, locallyknown as a Sumpitan, was handcrafted by the Dayak people of Borneo as a functional weapon with the craftsman holding special social status as the pride of the community.Traditionally, a blowpipe would take three to four months or longer to make using primitivemethods of plain drill and jungle scaffolding. The blowpipe is perforated by means of a longmetal rod with a chisel-shaped bit. The craftsman would choose wood such as belian with a darkcolour. Water would be poured into the hole to float out wood chips. The pipe would then betrimmed and whittled to a diameter of about 5 cm after the drilling was completed. Then thefinished weapon would be polished with a tough-grained, slightly waxy leaf. The bore of theblowpipe is very slightly curved to compensate for the weight of the weapon in use as it ishorizontally held. The bore is polished by means of pulling lengths of rattan through it.Some blowpipe makers would build a hut to work in isolation. Crafted usually around seven feetin length with a metal or wood spear tied with rattan at one end. The dart is inserted at the otherend, using the spear to point to the target. Some blowpipes are shorter, two feet in length andused for short distance shooting.The example in the Schmiedt Collection is a finely preserved antique example remaining in goodcondition with the rattan finely woven on both the sumpitan and the tolor, or dartcase.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : Blade Length :14 3/4"References:1. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2001) Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago.Leiden: Art Books.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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