Dayak parang ilang Handle

Bill M · 27th November 2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Hi Bill,

Iban Art, published 2005, is a very nice book.
The leeches making the sword familiar drawing blood is in the book a saying that they attribute to Saribas, an area where one of the Iban groups live.
I think that's a cool but more recent explanation from the time after headhunting was practised.
The Parang Ilang is a sword that the Iban got from the Kayan in the 19th C (according to Shelford and other sources).
The original meaning for the motif IMO must be found among the Kayan.

Michael

Hi Michael,

Do you have an "original meaning for the motif found among the Kayan?" Or could it be the same?

It seems that a great number of these hilts have similar carvings, so it seems to be an important symbol.

Some symbols are rooted in antiquity and faithfully reproduced while others have lost their original meaning and are just copied because they have been there a long time.

I very much appreciate your knowledge and am going to post a few of my Dayak pieces in the hopes of learning more.

Curious Bill

VVV · 27th November 2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Hi Michael,

Do you have an "original meaning for the motif found among the Kayan?" Or could it be the same?

It seems that a great number of these hilts have similar carvings, so it seems to be an important symbol.

Some symbols are rooted in antiquity and faithfully reproduced while others have lost their original meaning and are just copied because they have been there a long time.

I very much appreciate your knowledge and am going to post a few of my Dayak pieces in the hopes of learning more.

Curious Bill

Hi Bill,

Missed your post first because it came before Ben's.
I will try to find time tonight, or tomorrow night, to go through some of the old works and different ideas on what the "leech" motif represents.
I prefer to base it on quotes so everybody has the same sources to form their own opinion on this.
Look forward to see your Dayak pieces.
Maybe in a separate thread, so we can limit this thread to discuss Iban-Kayan transition Mandau?

Michael

Bill M · 27th November 2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Hi Bill,

Missed your post first because it came before Ben's.
I will try to find time tonight, or tomorrow night, to go through some of the old works and different ideas on what the "leech" motif represents.
I prefer to base it on quotes so everybody has the same sources to form their own opinion on this.
Look forward to see your Dayak pieces.
Maybe in a separate thread, so we can limit this thread to discuss Iban-Kayan transition Mandau?

Michael

Of course

Dajak · 27th November 2006, 01:55 PM

Hi Michael here some blade s yours has the style off the oldman jimpul

Dajak · 27th November 2006, 01:56 PM

and some more

VVV · 27th November 2006, 02:08 PM

Thanks Ben,

Yes it resembles the style of the old Jimpul more than the Ilang.
Not home yet for a couple of hours but will post blade comments as soon as I have it in front of me again.

Michael

VVV · 27th November 2006, 04:59 PM

Back home, the blade is not flat but concave/convex like a Parang Ilang.

Michael

27th November 2006, 01:55 PM	#4
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi Michael here some blade s yours has the style off the oldman jimpul Attached Images

27th November 2006, 01:56 PM	#5
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	and some more Attached Images

27th November 2006, 02:08 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Ben, Yes it resembles the style of the old Jimpul more than the Ilang. Not home yet for a couple of hours but will post blade comments as soon as I have it in front of me again. Michael

27th November 2006, 04:59 PM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Back home, the blade is not flat but concave/convex like a Parang Ilang. Michael