Dayak parang ilang Handle

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by Dajak

Hi Arjan can you take a look in leiden about this handle ??

Ben

Hi Ben,
sorry for the late reaction I was very busy making www.thehornbill.com
so I didn't have any time to answer.
The discussion is very interesting.
Leiden has as far as I have seen not a mandauhilt like the one you listed in the beginning of this thread.
what I think is that it is maybe an Iban imitation of a Modang hilt.
the shape is very rare and I don't think you'll find easy another like this.
on the silverwork: I know that the Maloh tribe who produced as well as the brass corsets for the Iban also most of the silverwork.they are likely originated from a mixed race of indigenes and Hindu -Javanese invaders.
This could declare the more ar less "non-Iban" style in the silverwork.
(source: metalworking in Borneo ,V.T King and J.W.Christie)

Arjan.