Dayak mandau

[colin henshaw]

Willem

Many thanks for your input - here are some images of the back and side of the mask. The ears (one missing) and nose are attached separately with nails. Can you find anything similar in your books etc ?

Is it correct to say that art styles in Borneo could vary from tribe to tribe, as in Africa for example ?

Kind regards
Colin

Indianajones

Many thanks for your input, also. It could be assumed that the British collectors visited (or were colonials ?) in the northern or British part of Borneo. But of course, this may not have been the case. As mentioned above, can you give any guidance about different art styles etc to be found within Borneo, if they exist ?

Kind regards
Colin

[Maurice]

As Willem mentioned, the mandau Willem depicted was collected by Leupold, in the North East part of Dutch Borneo, upriver the Kajan..
According the book, the sword (and the three others that are depicted in the book) are typically for that region.

the Kenja's in the Sarawak area had other kind of mandaus....

Maurice

[VANDOO]

DO OTHER TRIBES BESIDES KAYAN/ KENYAH USE THE SHORT DYED GOAT HAIR DECORATION ON THEIR MANDAUS?
HOW WIDELY SPREAD IS ITS USE IN BORNEO IS IT FOUND IN MALAYSIAN AND INDONESIAN BORNEO AS WELL AS BRUNI.?
I ASSUME IT IS MOSTLY FOUND ON SWORDS USED FOR CEREMONY OR PRESENTATION NOT FOR EVERYDAY USE. A FEW PICTURES OF EXAMPLES FOR COMMENT.
PICTURES OF SEVERAL EXAMPLES BOTH RECENT AND OLD. ONE PICTURE FROM OLD BOOK 1928 WITH MANDAU AND THE TYPE HAT WORN WITH IT.

[Indianajones]

Hi Colin (and Willem )
having a second look it may be more Kenyah as Willem (and others corrected me; the using of the different color hairtufts are more done by Kenyah.

I have collected and studied Dayak material (comparisson) for years and as anywhere else in the world Borneo also consists of many (actually) different tribes -collectively called Dayak- with each their own styles, religions, habits and carvingtraditions. Although through migration and near borders these differences mingle, but . . . .one can still very much distinguish from an object with carving or a particular style from which area it orginates in Borneo.

To give a very short impression;
Kenyah=very busy artstyle (as your carved scabbard)
Kayan= more archaïc style, classic
Bidayuh/landdayak= floral forms, quite different style.
Bahau/Penihing= often carved 'horselike'-mouths or heads are popping out (as do the 'elbows')
etc

Vandoo; yes the Naga's on the mainland are also famous for their elaborate use of white and red-dyed goathair, mainly for objects used in war or ceremonies indeed. I personally havent got any pics at quick hand. Perhaps others.

Best, Wouter

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF DAYAK WARRIORS WITH SWORDS WITH THE SHORT DYED GOAT HAIR ON THEM. THE PAGE WITH TWO PICTURES WAS DATED 1933 DON'T KNOW WHICH TRIBE.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Indianajones

I have collected and studied Dayak material (comparisson) for years

May I ask which sources you used for your study?

Originally Posted by Indianajones

and as anywhere else in the world Borneo also consists of many (actually) different tribes -collectively called Dayak- with each their own styles, religions, habits and carvingtraditions. Although through migration and near borders these differences mingle, but . . . .one can still very much distinguish from an object with carving or a particular style from which area it orginates in Borneo.

I agree with the first part but about the last part I fully disagree. Therefore a lot of study will be needed from old museumcollections, old private collections and old books/articles/drawings/images.
Though a lot of museumpieces are not documented correctly. So a lot of homework will be needed, finding out who collected it in Borneo, and than find sources about the person trying to nail down the area of a piece. Than it's still very tricky... But when several sources from different collections point out at one area, one could assume you're on the right track...
Therefore it's very hard to explain ethnographic weapon collecters in general in a few words to nail down origine of their mandaus, as you can see in previous mentioned lines.....
And the trading of parts (blades/handles/scabbards) were also done. You do need some knowledge about which tribes visits which tribes and also which tribes were in war with other tribes, which can sometimes be found in very little quotations in very old books...
So I definately won't agree it's very much distinguish to point out an area as you say!

[Tim Simmons]

Not that I am interested in this sort of thing these days but I have to say how nice it is to see pre WW2 pictures of this type of Mandau. So often I have been swayed but the rather erronious views of the conserative Mandau/Borneo speciallists, somewhat spoilling the joy of a find. They certainly have very good blades.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Not that I am interested in this sort of thing these days but I have to say how nice it is to see pre WW2 pictures of this type of Mandau. So often I have been swayed but the rather erronious views of the conserative Mandau/Borneo speciallists, somewhat spoilling the joy of a find. They certainly have very good blades.

That's just the point here what I tried to say. It isn't always that easy to give perfect views about these weapons.
Sometimes it's very clear and obvious, but sometimes it could be a mix or it's just that divergent that it isn't that simple anymore...