what mandau is this?

A. G. Maisey · 19th August 2015, 11:00 PM

First the disclaimer:-

I do not collect, nor do I study mandau, I understand very little about them.

An excellent source to assist in an understanding of the people of Borneo is:- "Naga dan Burung Enggang (Hornbill and Dragon)", Bernard Sellato, ISBN: 979-8112-00-8

In this book there are a number of photos of mandau hilts that are identified by tribe.

The people of Borneo retained Maritime SE Asian traditions for much longer than people in most other areas, because of this we can now understand the roots of some practices in other parts of MSE Asia. For instance, in respect of mandau, although the blade was made by skilled craftsman, the hilt and scabbard were normally made by the owner. The carving of the hilt in particular was an important function of display for younger men, it served as the male equivalent of the female attribute of weaving, and demonstrated that the carver did have a finer side, apart from his required ability to take heads. There have always been skilled carvers and unskilled carvers:- quality of workmanship in a hilt is not necessarily an indicator of age.

Dyak women were/are like women everywhere:- they want a provider and defender but they also want that provider and defender to be able to recite Lord Byron and play a lute --- well, so to speak. The taking of heads was evidence of one, the carving of the hilt was evidence of the other.

Considering Jawa, in much earlier times the hilts of keris would have been carved by the owners of the keris, not by specialised craftsmen. Apart from the display function, there was also the consideration of tribute to an ancestor, both of these functions outweighing the obvious economic benefits of carving one's own hilt.

Taking of heads may have been outlawed a long time ago, but it was still a common practice in Kalimantan during the 1960's and 1970's, and during the 1990's the Madurese settlers who were relocated to Kalimantan (the Transmigrasi policy) were also subjected to having their heads transferred to Dyak ownership

Battara · 19th August 2015, 11:45 PM

I hate to disagree with Ian and Maurice, but I don't believe that the brass/bronze can be made during the forging process. Forging steel has to be done at such high temperatures that the bronze/brass material would be molten. It is too soft for this process, and therefore must be inserted after the steel forging process. Only then can one engrave holes or grooves to which the bronze/brass can be hammered.

Ian · 20th August 2015, 04:23 AM

Jose:

Yes, you are correct, as usual, about the decoration of these blades. What I should have said was that the dots and other brass ornaments are placed there at the time the blade is manufactured/forged (not during the actual forging process). Similarly, the file and chisel work are done by a skilled metal worker at the same time. So basically all of the blade's decoration is done before the hilt is attached and the sword is used.

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I hate to disagree with Ian and Maurice, but I don't believe that the brass/bronze can be made during the forging process. Forging steel has to be done at such high temperatures that the bronze/brass material would be molten. It is too soft for this process, and therefore must be inserted after the steel forging process. Only then can one engrave holes or grooves to which the bronze/brass can be hammered.

Maurice · 20th August 2015, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I hate to disagree with Ian and Maurice, but I don't believe that the brass/bronze can be made during the forging process. Forging steel has to be done at such high temperatures that the bronze/brass material would be molten. It is too soft for this process, and therefore must be inserted after the steel forging process. Only then can one engrave holes or grooves to which the bronze/brass can be hammered.

Yes Jose you are right, I expressed wrongly here and there the misunderstanding began. I meant when "producing" a blade. The holes are made and after the forging proces, and than filled with brass.
When "deliver" the blade to the new owner, the inlay is allready there, and not done afterwards when heads had been taken.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.

PS you can find this in clear photos when such blade is in progress in the Nieuwenhuis "bible".

Maurice · 20th August 2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

For instance, in respect of mandau, although the blade was made by skilled craftsman, the hilt and scabbard were normally made by the owner.

There also were skilled craftsman available for hilts and scabbards.
They all have been made according a certain standard, in line with the adat, and not every dayak was able to carve like this.

Maurice · 20th August 2015, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

There have always been skilled carvers and unskilled carvers:- quality of workmanship in a hilt is not necessarily an indicator of age.

Yes that is absolutely true.
But in this specific handle which Green depicted, it is obviously the case.
Here the quality of workmanship is an indicator of age I'm afraid.

The same can be said about the blade by the way.....

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19th August 2015, 11:00 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	First the disclaimer:- I do not collect, nor do I study mandau, I understand very little about them. An excellent source to assist in an understanding of the people of Borneo is:- "Naga dan Burung Enggang (Hornbill and Dragon)", Bernard Sellato, ISBN: 979-8112-00-8 In this book there are a number of photos of mandau hilts that are identified by tribe. The people of Borneo retained Maritime SE Asian traditions for much longer than people in most other areas, because of this we can now understand the roots of some practices in other parts of MSE Asia. For instance, in respect of mandau, although the blade was made by skilled craftsman, the hilt and scabbard were normally made by the owner. The carving of the hilt in particular was an important function of display for younger men, it served as the male equivalent of the female attribute of weaving, and demonstrated that the carver did have a finer side, apart from his required ability to take heads. There have always been skilled carvers and unskilled carvers:- quality of workmanship in a hilt is not necessarily an indicator of age. Dyak women were/are like women everywhere:- they want a provider and defender but they also want that provider and defender to be able to recite Lord Byron and play a lute --- well, so to speak. The taking of heads was evidence of one, the carving of the hilt was evidence of the other. Considering Jawa, in much earlier times the hilts of keris would have been carved by the owners of the keris, not by specialised craftsmen. Apart from the display function, there was also the consideration of tribute to an ancestor, both of these functions outweighing the obvious economic benefits of carving one's own hilt. Taking of heads may have been outlawed a long time ago, but it was still a common practice in Kalimantan during the 1960's and 1970's, and during the 1990's the Madurese settlers who were relocated to Kalimantan (the Transmigrasi policy) were also subjected to having their heads transferred to Dyak ownership

19th August 2015, 11:45 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I hate to disagree with Ian and Maurice, but I don't believe that the brass/bronze can be made during the forging process. Forging steel has to be done at such high temperatures that the bronze/brass material would be molten. It is too soft for this process, and therefore must be inserted after the steel forging process. Only then can one engrave holes or grooves to which the bronze/brass can be hammered.