A Piso Podang With An Unusual Blade

VVV · 30th August 2009, 07:05 PM

Nice film Maurice!
Aleksey, on the brass/gold some say decoration only, some say metaphysical reasons...
Charles, make a forum search on Iban Pedang for more examples and comments on the Borneo variation.
It´s not that easy with the hilts but here are some hints, not "laws", that mostly seems to work for ID:
- Usually the one with motifs like yours are Borneo.
- The open cup-pommels usually are Batak.
- The closed cup-pommels could be both but seems to be most often Borneo.
- The ones with "crusader-like" cross-pieces are probably Batak.

But some of the ones that fit the Borneo description above could also be Peninsular Malay.
Like everything else it´s a safer guess when you find several hints on the same sword.

Michael

Maurice · 1st September 2009, 03:05 PM

An old picture in the book of A.W. Nieuwenhuis!
1894-1900.

Maurice · 1st September 2009, 03:06 PM

Front Cover of Iban Art!

Maurice · 1st September 2009, 03:07 PM

A picture of an Iban pedang in the book "Living in Sarawak" .

Maurice · 1st September 2009, 03:08 PM

Old Iban photo's with pedang!

Maurice · 1st September 2009, 03:12 PM

The Pedang was not only used by the seadayaks (Iban's) in Borneo.
But it was also in use by the Dusun's in North East of Borneo.
Here what I found in the book of Evans (who visited Sabah between 1910 and 1911 and in 1915).
An old photo of a Dusun with a pedang (and the text that belongs to it).

And some phrases in the book that are important regarding the mentioned pedang.

VVV · 1st September 2009, 10:10 PM

Here is additional info on this kind of sword among the Dusun from an article by Evans, published in 1912:

"Once, nevertheless, at Tuaran I was witness of a small portion of a head-hunting ceremony. Seven or eight men were walking in single file near a village and were keeping up a continual war cry, which had a peculiar whistling sound. Each man was wearing a ceremonial sword with a very long scabbard that was profusely decorated with human hair. This sword is called "Tenumpassuan," it consists of a straight blade about 2 1/2 feet long and a brass grip with guards; when combined with a short sheath it is usually known as "pedang." The scabbard of the tenumpassuan is about 4 feet long and broadens out to a width of 6 inches at its further end, The outer face is covered with rude carving."

Michael

And some additional reference pictures of the pedang. The drawing seems to be the same guy as the picture above that Maurice posted.

1st September 2009, 03:05 PM	#2
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,464	Nieuwenhuis! An old picture in the book of A.W. Nieuwenhuis! 1894-1900. Attached Images

1st September 2009, 03:06 PM	#3
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,464	Front cover of Iban Art! Front Cover of Iban Art! Attached Images

1st September 2009, 03:07 PM	#4
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,464	Living in Sarawak: Heppell! A picture of an Iban pedang in the book "Living in Sarawak" . Attached Images

1st September 2009, 03:08 PM	#5
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,464	Old Iban photo's with pedang! Old Iban photo's with pedang! Attached Images

1st September 2009, 03:12 PM	#6
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,464	Book of Evans. The Pedang was not only used by the seadayaks (Iban's) in Borneo. But it was also in use by the Dusun's in North East of Borneo. Here what I found in the book of Evans (who visited Sabah between 1910 and 1911 and in 1915). An old photo of a Dusun with a pedang (and the text that belongs to it). And some phrases in the book that are important regarding the mentioned pedang. Attached Images

30th August 2009, 07:05 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice film Maurice! Aleksey, on the brass/gold some say decoration only, some say metaphysical reasons... Charles, make a forum search on Iban Pedang for more examples and comments on the Borneo variation. It´s not that easy with the hilts but here are some hints, not "laws", that mostly seems to work for ID: - Usually the one with motifs like yours are Borneo. - The open cup-pommels usually are Batak. - The closed cup-pommels could be both but seems to be most often Borneo. - The ones with "crusader-like" cross-pieces are probably Batak. But some of the ones that fit the Borneo description above could also be Peninsular Malay. Like everything else it´s a safer guess when you find several hints on the same sword. Michael

1st September 2009, 10:10 PM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Here is additional info on this kind of sword among the Dusun from an article by Evans, published in 1912: "Once, nevertheless, at Tuaran I was witness of a small portion of a head-hunting ceremony. Seven or eight men were walking in single file near a village and were keeping up a continual war cry, which had a peculiar whistling sound. Each man was wearing a ceremonial sword with a very long scabbard that was profusely decorated with human hair. This sword is called "Tenumpassuan," it consists of a straight blade about 2 1/2 feet long and a brass grip with guards; when combined with a short sheath it is usually known as "pedang." The scabbard of the tenumpassuan is about 4 feet long and broadens out to a width of 6 inches at its further end, The outer face is covered with rude carving." Michael And some additional reference pictures of the pedang. The drawing seems to be the same guy as the picture above that Maurice posted. Attached Images

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