A mandau with brass hilt for sharing and comment

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Jeff,

Thank you!
There is not the clear tip but some hints, also when I am not an expert by Borneo weapons I have handled some very nice and old swords and seeing a lot more online.
The scabbard in question is minimum old, see by the attached pictures the cracks in the rotan, a clear sign of good age.
By the following pictures you see first the rotan binding from the scabbard in question and next a binding by a very old scabbard. Antique bindings are very refined, compare.
Another sign is the overall patination, color and the feeling in hand.
Try to look to old collections, there you can handle the objects, visit museums, look online but don't believe all what there is told.
Look to the pages of art dealers, it's a long learning process.

Best regards,
Detlef

Very helpful, thank you. My eye is getting better, particularly with types I am more familiar with, but I have a long way to go.