Dayak parang

ariel · 16th July 2007, 10:44 PM

Fabulous!
This is the classic example of a beheading sword used by the feared Headhunters of Blue Ash!

Battara · 16th July 2007, 11:33 PM

I love the carving. Congratulations! Reminds me of something Iban.

David · 16th July 2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Fabulous!
This is the classic example of a beheading sword used by the feared Headhunters of Blue Ash!

LOL!!! Hey, what do you know about Blue Ash?

David · 16th July 2007, 11:48 PM

Yes Jose, i thought it might be Iban, but frankly i don't know all that much about this stuff. I only have one mandau in my collection and a whole lotta keris as you know.

Hopefully i can get some opinions from Ben, Willem, Michael and Dave who seem to know a great deal more about these weapons.

kai · 16th July 2007, 11:52 PM

Hello David,

Hmm, the blade and the hilt do show some skill. However, I'm fairly sure the hilt isn't carved in any traditional style - looks 20th century to me, possibly for someone travelling for pleasure...

Regards,
Kai

Bill M · 17th July 2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello David,

Hmm, the blade and the hilt do show some skill. However, I'm fairly sure the hilt isn't carved in any traditional style - looks 20th century to me, possibly for someone travelling for pleasure...

Regards,
Kai

LOL and ROTFLMAO!!!!! Wish EAA had Rammy smilies!

VANDOO · 17th July 2007, 01:42 AM

I LIKE IT

IT LOOKS LIKE DAYAK WORK TO ME BASICLY TRADITIONAL DESIGN WITH A FEW THINGS ADDED THAT LOOK MORE LIKE BATAK, THE SNAKE FOR INSTANCE. I WOULD ESTIMATE IT IS NO NEWER THAN 50 YEARS OLD AND PERHAPS UP TO 100 ,CAN'T TELL FROM THE PICTURES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE VERY GOOD. I WOULD CERTIANLY LIKE TO ADD IT TO MY COLLECTION IF IT WAS IN MY PRICE RANGE. TOO BAD IT IS MISSING ITS SCABBARD, I SUSPECT THE MANDAU EXPERTS WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU MUCH MORE. WISH I COULD RUN ACROSS SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN AN ANTIQUE SHOP AROUND HERE.

David · 17th July 2007, 01:46 AM

hmmm, well the blade is rather weighty and well made and shows considerable wear and patina, as does the hilt. The pictures don't do justice as i suggested earily. If this is 20thC it is certainly very early on in that century. I suppose the hilt could have been a latter addition, but it doesn't look or feel that way. Everything about this piece gives me the impression that it saw a good deal of use. Maybe "someone travelling for pleasure" cut through a few jungles with it on their journeys.

Its overall length is just shy of 20 in. with the blade alone only 14.5 in.
Rather compact, still very sharp and definitely dangerous, even for its size.

David · 17th July 2007, 01:54 AM

Yeah Barry, it was a shocker for me to see it in this antique mall that i visit regularly sitting in a display case filled with old wood planes and other tools.

I just had to buy it.

Not too many others in this town would really appreciate it .

VANDOO · 17th July 2007, 03:20 AM

CONGRADULATIONS I WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY YOUR LUCKY DAY AS MOST OF THESE KIND OF THINGS END UP ON EBAY WHERE YOU HAVE TO BID AGAINST THE DEALERS AND COLLECTORS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.

OFTEN THE OPINION ON MANY ETHINOGRAPHIC WEAPONS IS THAT ANYTHING AFTER A CERTAN DATE IS TOURIST STUFF AND NOT REAL TRIBAL ARTEFACT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS NOT TRUE! , FOR INSTANCE WHEN HEADHUNTING ENDED SWORDS WERE STILL CARRIED AND USED FOR WORK AS JUNGLE KNIVES AND TOOLS. THEY ALSO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF SELF DEFENSE,STATUS AND ARE USED FOR CEREMONYS EVEN TO THE PRESENT TIME IN MANY AREAS.

IN TODAYS WORLD THE SWORDS USED FOR CEREMONY OR TO DENOTE STATUS OR WEALTH WOULD BE MORE ORNATE THAN THOSE USED AS TOOLS OR JUNGLE KNIVES. I SUSPECT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TRUE TO A CERTAN EXTENT IN THE PAST , AS QUITE A BIT OF A WARRIORS WEALTH WOULD BE TIED UP IN A GOOD SWORD. SO PERHAPS THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT OR WOULD HAVE DONE THEIR OWN CARVEING AND DECORATION TO A MORE PLAIN SWORD UNTIL THEY COULD AFFORD BETTER.
I WOULD SAY THE CARVING ON YOUR EXAMPLE WAS DONE BY A MASTER CARVER DUE TO ITS QUALITY AND THE SIZE OF THE DEER ANTLER USED.

DaveS · 17th July 2007, 04:23 AM

David: Congratulations on a great find. Of all the mandaus we own, we definitely have not seen a better example of handle carving. While i'm not sure if it's Iban, i think it's probably no later than 1930 or 40 at the latest. I seem to recall that one book i read from a man who traveled through Borneo in 1879, that he stated that each man owned three or four mandaus, possibly depending on his status. I can't seem to find this book right now, i'll have to look for it later. Nevertheless, you have the best mandau handle that we have ever seen...................Dave.

Bill M · 17th July 2007, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Fabulous!
This is the classic example of a beheading sword used by the feared Headhunters of Blue Ash!

Ohio?

16th July 2007, 10:44 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Fabulous! This is the classic example of a beheading sword used by the feared Headhunters of Blue Ash!

16th July 2007, 11:33 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	I love the carving. Congratulations! Reminds me of something Iban.

16th July 2007, 11:48 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Yes Jose, i thought it might be Iban, but frankly i don't know all that much about this stuff. I only have one mandau in my collection and a whole lotta keris as you know. Hopefully i can get some opinions from Ben, Willem, Michael and Dave who seem to know a great deal more about these weapons.

16th July 2007, 11:52 PM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello David, Hmm, the blade and the hilt do show some skill. However, I'm fairly sure the hilt isn't carved in any traditional style - looks 20th century to me, possibly for someone travelling for pleasure... Regards, Kai

17th July 2007, 01:42 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I LIKE IT IT LOOKS LIKE DAYAK WORK TO ME BASICLY TRADITIONAL DESIGN WITH A FEW THINGS ADDED THAT LOOK MORE LIKE BATAK, THE SNAKE FOR INSTANCE. I WOULD ESTIMATE IT IS NO NEWER THAN 50 YEARS OLD AND PERHAPS UP TO 100 ,CAN'T TELL FROM THE PICTURES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE VERY GOOD. I WOULD CERTIANLY LIKE TO ADD IT TO MY COLLECTION IF IT WAS IN MY PRICE RANGE. TOO BAD IT IS MISSING ITS SCABBARD, I SUSPECT THE MANDAU EXPERTS WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU MUCH MORE. WISH I COULD RUN ACROSS SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN AN ANTIQUE SHOP AROUND HERE.

17th July 2007, 01:46 AM	#8
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	hmmm, well the blade is rather weighty and well made and shows considerable wear and patina, as does the hilt. The pictures don't do justice as i suggested earily. If this is 20thC it is certainly very early on in that century. I suppose the hilt could have been a latter addition, but it doesn't look or feel that way. Everything about this piece gives me the impression that it saw a good deal of use. Maybe "someone travelling for pleasure" cut through a few jungles with it on their journeys. Its overall length is just shy of 20 in. with the blade alone only 14.5 in. Rather compact, still very sharp and definitely dangerous, even for its size.

17th July 2007, 01:54 AM	#9
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Yeah Barry, it was a shocker for me to see it in this antique mall that i visit regularly sitting in a display case filled with old wood planes and other tools. I just had to buy it. Not too many others in this town would really appreciate it .

17th July 2007, 03:20 AM	#10
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS I WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY YOUR LUCKY DAY AS MOST OF THESE KIND OF THINGS END UP ON EBAY WHERE YOU HAVE TO BID AGAINST THE DEALERS AND COLLECTORS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD. OFTEN THE OPINION ON MANY ETHINOGRAPHIC WEAPONS IS THAT ANYTHING AFTER A CERTAN DATE IS TOURIST STUFF AND NOT REAL TRIBAL ARTEFACT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS NOT TRUE! , FOR INSTANCE WHEN HEADHUNTING ENDED SWORDS WERE STILL CARRIED AND USED FOR WORK AS JUNGLE KNIVES AND TOOLS. THEY ALSO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF SELF DEFENSE,STATUS AND ARE USED FOR CEREMONYS EVEN TO THE PRESENT TIME IN MANY AREAS. IN TODAYS WORLD THE SWORDS USED FOR CEREMONY OR TO DENOTE STATUS OR WEALTH WOULD BE MORE ORNATE THAN THOSE USED AS TOOLS OR JUNGLE KNIVES. I SUSPECT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TRUE TO A CERTAN EXTENT IN THE PAST , AS QUITE A BIT OF A WARRIORS WEALTH WOULD BE TIED UP IN A GOOD SWORD. SO PERHAPS THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT OR WOULD HAVE DONE THEIR OWN CARVEING AND DECORATION TO A MORE PLAIN SWORD UNTIL THEY COULD AFFORD BETTER. I WOULD SAY THE CARVING ON YOUR EXAMPLE WAS DONE BY A MASTER CARVER DUE TO ITS QUALITY AND THE SIZE OF THE DEER ANTLER USED.

17th July 2007, 04:23 AM	#11
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	David: Congratulations on a great find. Of all the mandaus we own, we definitely have not seen a better example of handle carving. While i'm not sure if it's Iban, i think it's probably no later than 1930 or 40 at the latest. I seem to recall that one book i read from a man who traveled through Borneo in 1879, that he stated that each man owned three or four mandaus, possibly depending on his status. I can't seem to find this book right now, i'll have to look for it later. Nevertheless, you have the best mandau handle that we have ever seen...................Dave.