Mandau for comment, recent?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

I THINK IT IS A MANDAU MADE FOR LOCAL SALE AND USE. HOW OLD? YOU WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO JUDGE WHEN YOU HAVE IT IN HAND. YOU GOT IT FOR A VERY GOOD PRICE AS I DOUBT YOU COULD BUY A BRAND NEW ONE IN BORNEO FOR THAT PRICE TODAY. IT WILL PROBABLY APPEAR NEWER THAN IT IS BECAUSE SOMEONE BOUGHT IT FOR A SOUVINEER AND BROUGHT IT HOME AND NEVER USED IT. IT IS NOT MADE AS A SOUVINEER BUT SUCH ITEMS DO MAKE GOOD SOUVINEERS FOR COLLECTORS.

Thank you for comment Barry. The seller stated that it is from 1920/30, don't know if it's true but seems believable when I look to the pictures because the workmanship seems good to my eyes. But like you write, I will know more when I hold it in my hands.

Regards,

Detlef

[asomotif]

Hello Detlef,

Nice mandau at a very decent price.
The blade is stamped, normally I would think stamped blades to be more recent. But the craftmanship on the scabbard with the inlays and the rottan knots looks pretty good.
So I think it could be 1920/1930's and well preserved as Barry suggests.

Best regards,
Willem

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hello Detlef,

Nice mandau at a very decent price.
The blade is stamped, normally I would think stamped blades to be more recent. But the craftmanship on the scabbard with the inlays and the rottan knots looks pretty good.
So I think it could be 1920/1930's and well preserved as Barry suggests.

Best regards,
Willem

Thank you Willem,

have hoped that you jump in! I just have given a small bid for watching and never have thought that I will win the auction.
The seller just told me that it come from a french family where the grandfather was a sailor and bought it 1930 in Indonesia.
Do you have a clue from which tribal group it could be?

Regards,

Detlef

[Robert]

Great catch Detlef and at a price you seldom see anymore. Cannot wait to see the pictures after you get it. Congratulation on this very nice and very inexpensive addition to your collection.


Best,
Robert

[T. Koch]

Congrats on your new mandau Detlef!

The fundamental style of the carvings is reminiscent of those of the Kayans/Kenyah of East Kalimantan, although the execution in this piece is rougher and somewhat more primitive than that of older 19th cent. pieces: It carries the main jaws on the trunk of the hilt, as well as the Makara-like dragon motive with the up-curling nose at the end of the branch of the hilt (Griff-ast to follow the terminology of Hein). On the other hand it is also lacking several other usually motives found on old mandaus of this region, which as far as I know is typical for later 20th cent. pieces. IMO, i agree that this was probably made for work use within the society. Judging from these pictures only and the patina, wear, etc. my guess would be mid 20th cent, but I guess an earlier collection date is also possible if it was acquired early after being made and since stored under very preserving condtitions.

The cap at the end of the hilt is usually made from damar, but here looks to have been carved from something harder - horn perhaps?

I really like the blade profile and the tip in particular - wonderfully stabby. The seemingly bone-reinforced scabbard throat as well as the two colored rattan binds, katong evok are cool features as well!

Enjoy it in good health!


All the best, - Thor

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by T. Koch

Congrats on your new mandau Detlef!

The fundamental style of the carvings is reminiscent of those of the Kayans/Kenyah of East Kalimantan, although the execution in this piece is rougher and somewhat more primitive than that of older 19th cent. pieces: It carries the main jaws on the trunk of the hilt, as well as the Makara-like dragon motive with the up-curling nose at the end of the branch of the hilt (Griff-ast to follow the terminology of Hein). On the other hand it is also lacking several other usually motives found on old mandaus of this region, which as far as I know is typical for later 20th cent. pieces. IMO, i agree that this was probably made for work use within the society. Judging from these pictures only and the patina, wear, etc. my guess would be mid 20th cent, but I guess an earlier collection date is also possible if it was acquired early after being made and since stored under very preserving condtitions.

The cap at the end of the hilt is usually made from damar, but here looks to have been carved from something harder - horn perhaps?

I really like the blade profile and the tip in particular - wonderfully stabby. The seemingly bone-reinforced scabbard throat as well as the two colored rattan binds, katong evok are cool features as well!

Enjoy it in good health!

All the best, - Thor

Thank you Thor for the detailed comment. I agree that hilt throat is carved most possible from horn and the one from the scabbard from bone.

I am as well like the two coloured rattan binding at the scabbard.

Regards,

Detlef

[Indianajones]

Sajen,
first I was gonna reply with; 'what have you bought now!!! My God' but for $40,!!! And looking better; I think <cant see the stamp that Willem is talking about> the blade is actually a good old/antique one as it has some inserted dots in it (?), simple form and nicely concave.
The start of the grip is indeed a section of horn. The handle is quite terrible, sorry to say, but the copperwire around the grip again is often also seen on old examples.
From the style of scabbard and handle I would place your mandau from the Ngaju-tribe, South (to east-ish)Borneo. Blades from this tribe are often from 'Mantikei'-iron as that is close to their region.

(Kenyah pieces are always quite "overdecorated" and busy of curls etc; Kayanstyle is however the most archaïc of Dayaks, but as they are often found near Kenya they also tend to decorate more)

Quite a nice piece afterall and honest!
Best, W

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Robert Coleman

Great catch Detlef and at a price you seldom see anymore. Cannot wait to see the pictures after you get it. Congratulation on this very nice and very inexpensive addition to your collection.


Best,
Robert

Thank you very much Robert. Will post pictures when I have received it.

Regards,

Detlef