Dayak parang

David · 18th July 2007, 03:32 PM

Yes, i have never seen metal pins in one of these hilts either. I was hoping that might be a clue to its origin. Thanks for commenting.
Given the size and shape of the blade does anyone care to put a more definitive name to this form, or are we best off just referring to it as a parang.

asomotif · 18th July 2007, 03:42 PM

Dear David,

The blade is a mandau. (is assume the blade is concave/convex ie. hollow grind on the other side of the blade)

Simple blades with the rather blunt point often are pretty old.
pre 1900 is possible. (see enclosed pic of my koetei mandau)

So who knows what other forumites may come up with on the hilt.

David · 18th July 2007, 03:51 PM

Mandau it is then. It is a concave/convex form. The blade definitely gives me the feeling it may be 19th C.

Dajak · 18th July 2007, 03:59 PM

This is not an type off handle you can find on an Iban mandau or Jimpul

Ben

asomotif · 18th July 2007, 04:31 PM

The double S shape reminds me of the throat-tattoo that is so often seen amongst the Iban

VVV · 18th July 2007, 05:32 PM

It reminds me in size of this Kayan parang described in a book from 1880.
Like Ben I don't think the motifs of the handle is Iban but I don't know from which tribe it is.
At the moment I am not at home with my reference library but maybe somebody else have some ideas on the snake motif tribewise?

Michael

Dajak · 18th July 2007, 07:24 PM

Take a look at the aso motif on the handle it looks Kayan or Kenya to me
the brass wire looks old and the ferrule but I need close up pics .

Lets see what Michael finds out

Ben

Mytribalworld · 18th July 2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Mandau it is then. It is a concave/convex form. The blade definitely gives me the feeling it may be 19th C.

Hi David,
The piece is indeed from the 19th.
When I did recearch in the collection of Leiden I found a mandau with a similar carving.They have more of this type in the collection.see enclosed pics.
The blades of these mandaus are mostly small and undecorated.
Scabbards have a curious boatstyle endpiece.
Mandaus like this are found in the south of Borneo, on one of these the tag says " Banjarmassin" .Most mandaus of this style are from before 1900.
It should fit in my study course I think these mandaus had there influence on the mandau's in the Kutai area,or probably old Kutai mandaus did also have this shape? Whats quite typical is the " non dayak" style in the carvings of the hilts.Its too early for me to say anything about that,but in the area of Banjar were living a mix of different groups malay,dayak,chinese etc.
possibly they have influenced eachother and that could also be seen on this mandau.

friendly regards,

Arjan.

David · 18th July 2007, 09:01 PM

Thanks for that info Arjan. I see the same mirrorred "S" motif on thios example. Great research!

Dajak · 19th July 2007, 03:01 PM

Mandau from kutai area have different Handle s and the blade off this one is not small but wide
There are also kutai mandau with inlay .

Ben

David · 19th July 2007, 03:24 PM

Thanks for addition info about Kutai mandau, but i don't think Arjan has said he thought mine was from there.
I wish there were some different angles on the photos of your example Arjan, but i can now see on the top the same style of opened mouth creature that is on mine so now that is 2 motifs in common between these hilts. There definitely seem to be from the same area to me. I wonder if the museum you found it in has any more information of were it was collected?

18th July 2007, 03:42 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Dear David, The blade is a mandau. (is assume the blade is concave/convex ie. hollow grind on the other side of the blade) Simple blades with the rather blunt point often are pretty old. pre 1900 is possible. (see enclosed pic of my koetei mandau) So who knows what other forumites may come up with on the hilt. Attached Images

18th July 2007, 05:32 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	It reminds me in size of this Kayan parang described in a book from 1880. Like Ben I don't think the motifs of the handle is Iban but I don't know from which tribe it is. At the moment I am not at home with my reference library but maybe somebody else have some ideas on the snake motif tribewise? Michael Attached Images

18th July 2007, 03:32 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,219	Yes, i have never seen metal pins in one of these hilts either. I was hoping that might be a clue to its origin. Thanks for commenting. Given the size and shape of the blade does anyone care to put a more definitive name to this form, or are we best off just referring to it as a parang.

18th July 2007, 03:51 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,219	Mandau it is then. It is a concave/convex form. The blade definitely gives me the feeling it may be 19th C.

18th July 2007, 03:59 PM	#4
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	This is not an type off handle you can find on an Iban mandau or Jimpul Ben

18th July 2007, 04:31 PM	#5
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	The double S shape reminds me of the throat-tattoo that is so often seen amongst the Iban

18th July 2007, 07:24 PM	#7
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Take a look at the aso motif on the handle it looks Kayan or Kenya to me the brass wire looks old and the ferrule but I need close up pics . Lets see what Michael finds out Ben

18th July 2007, 09:01 PM	#9
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,219	Thanks for that info Arjan. I see the same mirrorred "S" motif on thios example. Great research!

19th July 2007, 03:01 PM	#10
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Mandau from kutai area have different Handle s and the blade off this one is not small but wide There are also kutai mandau with inlay . Ben

19th July 2007, 03:24 PM	#11
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,219	Thanks for addition info about Kutai mandau, but i don't think Arjan has said he thought mine was from there. I wish there were some different angles on the photos of your example Arjan, but i can now see on the top the same style of opened mouth creature that is on mine so now that is 2 motifs in common between these hilts. There definitely seem to be from the same area to me. I wonder if the museum you found it in has any more information of were it was collected?