Dayak parang

David · 17th July 2007, 12:54 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, 02:20 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, 03:23 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.

Dajak · 17th July 2007, 04:10 AM

Hi David it is 100% sure no Iban can you make some close up pics off the Handle also where the brass is connected to the Handle and below the handle and blade.
The blade looks old .

Ben

David · 17th July 2007, 04:33 AM

Thanks Dave, Ben and Barry for your responses.
Ben, i will try to do some more pics tomorrow evening, but i won't be able to get any more shots up for a couple of days.
BTW, the brass isn't very well connected to the hilt at all. I did a quick re-wrap before i photographed it and frankly i do not know whether the brass ring belongs at the top or bottom of the wire wrap. It seemed to make most amount of sense at the top. When i have time i would like to do a better restoration job on the wrappping.

asomotif · 18th July 2007, 09:48 AM

Dear David,

This is a strange combination.
The general form of the handle looks like examples that can be found on the finest of jimpuls.
But the blade is not a Jimpul, and the handle shows all kind of motifs, but nothing that one would expect.
Also the small metal pins that are in the handle is something I have never seen before.

But than again, personally I think that people from Borneo are open to influences from outside borneo and maybe this carver was inspired by foreign motifs. It must have been a skillful carver for sure.

But the odd motifs make it difficult to give it a place and date.

Never the less, good choice to take this home from the antique mall

David · 18th July 2007, 03:32 PM

Yes, i have never seen metal pins in one of these hilts either. I was hoping that might be a clue to its origin. Thanks for commenting.
Given the size and shape of the blade does anyone care to put a more definitive name to this form, or are we best off just referring to it as a parang.

17th July 2007, 12:54 AM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	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, 02:20 AM	#2
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, 03:23 AM	#3
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.

17th July 2007, 04:10 AM	#4
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi David it is 100% sure no Iban can you make some close up pics off the Handle also where the brass is connected to the Handle and below the handle and blade. The blade looks old . Ben

17th July 2007, 04:33 AM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Thanks Dave, Ben and Barry for your responses. Ben, i will try to do some more pics tomorrow evening, but i won't be able to get any more shots up for a couple of days. BTW, the brass isn't very well connected to the hilt at all. I did a quick re-wrap before i photographed it and frankly i do not know whether the brass ring belongs at the top or bottom of the wire wrap. It seemed to make most amount of sense at the top. When i have time i would like to do a better restoration job on the wrappping.

18th July 2007, 09:48 AM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Dear David, This is a strange combination. The general form of the handle looks like examples that can be found on the finest of jimpuls. But the blade is not a Jimpul, and the handle shows all kind of motifs, but nothing that one would expect. Also the small metal pins that are in the handle is something I have never seen before. But than again, personally I think that people from Borneo are open to influences from outside borneo and maybe this carver was inspired by foreign motifs. It must have been a skillful carver for sure. But the odd motifs make it difficult to give it a place and date. Never the less, good choice to take this home from the antique mall

18th July 2007, 03:32 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Yes, i have never seen metal pins in one of these hilts either. I was hoping that might be a clue to its origin. Thanks for commenting. Given the size and shape of the blade does anyone care to put a more definitive name to this form, or are we best off just referring to it as a parang.