Mandau for review

[Maurice]

Sorry, I'm not convinced this is an old style mandau, and probably more recent....

[kai]

The reptile skin pouch is IMHO a very recent addition - that would not hold up well in a humid environment...

OTOH, the rattan belt is of very good quality and probably much older.

Probably assembled from different pieces?

Regards,
Kai

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by kai

The reptile skin pouch is IMHO a very recent addition - that would not hold up well in a humid environment...

OTOH, the rattan belt is of very good quality and probably much older.

Probably assembled from different pieces?

Regards,
Kai

Yes, I agree with you Kai... Belt looks good and old!

[centurion]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Sorry, I'm not convinced this is an old style mandau, and probably more recent....

My guess would be pre-1940.

I got this from Palankaraya, Central Kalimantan. I saw how the swords after WW2 look like and they are more rough than this one. 19 century ones would be more sophisticated.

Scabbard could be a reconditioned one. Blade is, however nicely balanced forward but I expected the sword to be more heavy. I have a parang Sumba and it is also forward balanced, heavier, has more thick steel forward and it looks more rudimentary.

[asomotif]

Hello Maurice, (and all others

Nice to see you on the forum.

"refurbished" is what comes to mind.

I gues that various parts where combined. oldest first imho

Blade looks very old / pre 1900 possibly
Coins are dated, but are set in very recent resin.
Carrying strap looks well made and old.
scabbard carving style and quality looks old.
Handle is well carved, maybe it is old, but maybe of later date, might be upto late 20th century and made by a carver who still had the skills.
handle wrapping is recent. same as the resin.
side knife, blade looks old, but the carving on top of the handle much more recent in style , again imho.
snake skin side scabbard. very recent and unusual material.

All together a very nice mandau. restored and completed in situ.


Best regards,
Willem

[Battara]

I agree Willem that the pisau carving looks more recent. A replacement?

I also agree with the issue of using python skin Kai.

[centurion]

Here are some close-ups of the hilt.

The last photo is a comparison between the blades of Sumba parang, up and mandau, bellow.

[kai]

Hello Willem,

"refurbished" is what comes to mind.
<snip>
All together a very nice mandau. restored and completed in situ.

D'accord.

I gues that various parts where combined. oldest first imho

Blade looks very old / pre 1900 possibly

The blade certainly is unusual which makes evaluation difficult. I get the impression that it is heavily worn and, thus, of decent age: The engraved decor is unusual - the somewhat rough craftsmanship may point to a local production. The decor at the tip is heavily worn which supports considerable age rather than late production IMHO.

Coins are dated, but are set in very recent resin.
Carrying strap looks well made and old.

I posit that the belt/strap might even predate 1920/1910.

scabbard carving style and quality looks old.

The varnish does result in an odd glossy look and appearance of more recent origin.

Handle is well carved, maybe it is old, but maybe of later date, might be upto late 20th century and made by a carver who still had the skills.

Can the carving style be attributed to any specific region?

handle wrapping is recent. same as the resin.

Yup.

side knife, blade looks old, but the carving on top of the handle much more recent in style , again imho.

snake skin side scabbard. very recent and unusual material.

Also the red fabric, of course.

Regards,
Kai

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by kai

Also the red fabric, of course.

Regards,
Kai

I like the red fabric.
Really makes me think it was refurbisched for local use.

[centurion]

Originally Posted by kai

Can the carving style be attributed to any specific region?

This should be Ngaju Kayan. Similar hilt is mentioned in the Quer Durch Borneo book as from Mahakam area, Long-Glat, located on Kayan river, photo enclosed.

The book is available on Gutenberg project in html and is easily translatable while you read, and Duch-English translation works just fine by google translate. However, the book covers the period up to 1900, and unfortunately, I have not seen a book that would cover the period between the 1900s and WW2.

Here are the links for the book html:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17383...-h/17383-h.htm
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17379...-h/17379-h.htm

Python skin should be a recent addition, as I saw details like these on new mandaus.

[kai]

My guess would be pre-1940.

I got this from Palankaraya, Central Kalimantan. I saw how the swords after WW2 look like and they are more rough than this one. 19 century ones would be more sophisticated.

Our experts tend to be quite conservative in their age estimates...

This one certainly presents some additional challenges.

It is great that Willem broke things down - we probably do have to discuss the parts, indeed.

Scabbard could be a reconditioned one. Blade is, however nicely balanced forward but I expected the sword to be more heavy. I have a parang Sumba and it is also forward balanced, heavier, has more thick steel forward and it looks more rudimentary.

Most kabeala from Sunda don't come with exceptionally heavy blades but there surely are some. I'd guess that you're comparing apples to oranges here, anyway.

A dedicated thread on the kabeala would certainly be interesting...

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Originally Posted by kai

Most kabeala from Sunda don't come with exceptionally heavy blades but there surely are some. I'd guess that you're comparing apples to oranges here, anyway.

Considering the pic of both blades, maybe more like comparing apples and pomme de terre...

The kabeala blade looks well preserved and does not seem to exhibit much distal taper while the Dayak blade tapers and probably lost quite a bit of substance to age.

Regards,
Kai