Dayak parang

[Mytribalworld]

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.