Mandau With Questions

asomotif · 6th February 2018, 11:48 AM

Hello Robert,

The resin looks old and authentic indeed.
Not a recent marriage imo.

small decorations on the spine are good. You can find them in all kinds of variations. I dont think they are damage but intended decoration.

Looks like a good ol mandau in a more recent scabbard. nice find

best regards,
Willem

Robert · 7th February 2018, 03:53 AM

Thank you for your thoughts and opinion on the hilt and other aspects of this piece Willem. They like all the other replies that have been posted so far are greatly appreciated. It has been suggested to me by a very good friend that this mandau could possibly have been made by the Kutai people, but he was not positive. Would anyone else care to give an opinion on who it was that made this as well as the possible age of this piece? As this is very possibly the only mandau that I will ever have in my collection (unless I win the lottery) I am looking forward to hearing any additional information or opinions that anyone would care to offer on it.

Best,
Robert

Sajen · 10th February 2018, 09:22 PM

Hello Robert,

a very good buy!

It look much better as on the auction pictures. And it seems to be a fairly old one. Also better to have a more recent scabbard with it as no scabbard. I really like your mandau, special by the price you paid for it!

Best regards,
Detlef

Dajak · 11th February 2018, 04:37 PM

Hi here I found one with similair blade this is the old style how an Mandau looks like.

The one Willem shows maybe same period as yours Robert.

Dajak

asomotif · 11th February 2018, 11:46 PM

After 20 years collecting mandaus, I am getting a bit confused by this thread.

According to Ben, the top handle is old style, I assume the rattan work is also the old style, old patina, old resin.

The lower handle of Roberts mandau is a recent one, according Ben 1970 / 1980. The rattan also must be new. the differences between the two should be Obvious

Dajak · 12th February 2018, 05:13 AM

Willem take an good look at the rattan not the same.
same style but not so fine.

Hope you can see it know they put dirt to hide it.

This Mandau came from Steen Strombergs private collection.

Dajak

Robert · 12th February 2018, 05:49 AM

What you are most likely seeing is not dirt but a coating of old varnish applied by a previous owner. If you look closely right above the rattan you will see a small darkened area left from where I had sealed the rattan from the exposed antler before I removed the varnish from it. The entire sword was covered in a thick coating of it when it first arrived. I removed it all from the blade as well but was leery of trying to remove it from the woven section of the hilt for fear of causing damage to either the rattan or resin. If you could possibly recommend a safe way to remove it without causing any damage I would be very grateful for the information.

Best,
Robert

6th February 2018, 11:48 AM	#1
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Hello Robert, The resin looks old and authentic indeed. Not a recent marriage imo. small decorations on the spine are good. You can find them in all kinds of variations. I dont think they are damage but intended decoration. Looks like a good ol mandau in a more recent scabbard. nice find best regards, Willem Last edited by asomotif; 6th February 2018 at 06:03 PM.

11th February 2018, 04:37 PM	#4
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi here I found one with similair blade this is the old style how an Mandau looks like. The one Willem shows maybe same period as yours Robert. Dajak Attached Images Last edited by Dajak; 11th February 2018 at 07:38 PM.

11th February 2018, 11:46 PM	#5
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	After 20 years collecting mandaus, I am getting a bit confused by this thread. According to Ben, the top handle is old style, I assume the rattan work is also the old style, old patina, old resin. The lower handle of Roberts mandau is a recent one, according Ben 1970 / 1980. The rattan also must be new. the differences between the two should be Obvious Attached Images

12th February 2018, 05:13 AM	#6
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Willem take an good look at the rattan not the same. same style but not so fine. Hope you can see it know they put dirt to hide it. This Mandau came from Steen Strombergs private collection. Dajak Attached Images

7th February 2018, 03:53 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Thank you for your thoughts and opinion on the hilt and other aspects of this piece Willem. They like all the other replies that have been posted so far are greatly appreciated. It has been suggested to me by a very good friend that this mandau could possibly have been made by the Kutai people, but he was not positive. Would anyone else care to give an opinion on who it was that made this as well as the possible age of this piece? As this is very possibly the only mandau that I will ever have in my collection (unless I win the lottery) I am looking forward to hearing any additional information or opinions that anyone would care to offer on it. Best, Robert

10th February 2018, 09:22 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Hello Robert, a very good buy! It look much better as on the auction pictures. And it seems to be a fairly old one. Also better to have a more recent scabbard with it as no scabbard. I really like your mandau, special by the price you paid for it! Best regards, Detlef

12th February 2018, 05:49 AM	#7
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	What you are most likely seeing is not dirt but a coating of old varnish applied by a previous owner. If you look closely right above the rattan you will see a small darkened area left from where I had sealed the rattan from the exposed antler before I removed the varnish from it. The entire sword was covered in a thick coating of it when it first arrived. I removed it all from the blade as well but was leery of trying to remove it from the woven section of the hilt for fear of causing damage to either the rattan or resin. If you could possibly recommend a safe way to remove it without causing any damage I would be very grateful for the information. Best, Robert