mandau handle for comment

[Green]

I have this mandau hilt with motifs that I have not seen before. On both sides of the hilt surface, there were several carvings that Look like little heads/skulls?

Are these merely whimsical decorations or are they also some form of cultural symbols/meanings like lemantek (leeches) or Aso?

The hilt has a good patina and probably quite old.

Can you fellow mandau lovers/experts give comments and also which dayak tribe/region this is from?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

[asomotif]

Wow, what a lovely handle.

I think they are little dragons (aso's) surfacing. Very nice.

[kai]

Hello Willem,

I think they are little dragons (aso's) surfacing.

Hmm, I don't see aso here - no teeth? Could you please explain or show similar motifs?

From the available pics, I'd lean towards heads (or aliens ).

Nik, could you post close-ups of the pommel with better resolution, please? (You may have to throw more light during photography for better results.)

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Hello Nik,

Apologies for joining in late at the party...

Congrats, that's a really nice hilt! (No idea what dealers or "art collectors" think when they remove hilts from blades though... )

I especially like that the face works in both directions:
Regular orientation with 2 faces and inverted with 1 face - sweet!

As mentioned, please post close-ups with better resolution - thanks a lot!

Regards,
Kai

[Green]

Thanks Asomotif and Kai;

I also don't think these are aso, and they look like little heads.
I will try to take close up pics when I'm back home sometimes next week.

[asomotif]

I mean aso heads, I see a nose , 2 eyes and 2 ears.