Double ratan windings on mandauhandle!

Maurice · 23rd July 2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Hello Maurice. This is way out of my area, but I'll give it a stab. As the patina, and binding type look different from each other, I'd say that this is a later repair, or upgrade? Just guessing. My areas of "expertise", are more "civilized" weapons.

A repair is what I also considered, but at the other hand: Would it not be more practical to just remove the resin ring and old (damaged) ratan, and than renew those?

asomotif · 24th July 2009, 10:04 PM

Hi Maurice,

My guess is also decoration. not repair

Same as you have wrapping of metal combined with rattan.

Where is this hilt from ? Own colection ?
I know that I have seen this type of wrapping before, but I could not think of any book in my collection to find such a picture

It would be nice if anybody here had similar handles ?

Best regards,
Willem

Maurice · 25th July 2009, 06:30 AM

Hi Willem,

Yes I bought it, but it is at the customs for a week already right know!

So I have to be a bit patient yet.

A similar type of wrapping you can find in "Quer durch Borneo" from Nieuwenhuis.

Maurice

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hi Maurice,

My guess is also decoration. not repair

Same as you have wrapping of metal combined with rattan.

Where is this hilt from ? Own colection ?
I know that I have seen this type of wrapping before, but I could not think of any book in my collection to find such a picture

It would be nice if anybody here had similar handles ?

Best regards,
Willem

asomotif · 26th July 2009, 01:11 AM

Yes, Nieuwenhuis. I did not check it and was confussing it with the other hilt with the bead winding in Quer durch Borneo.

Wow

you actually bought this quality handle.
It must be from the same age as Nieuwenhuis'example. Great buy !!!

As for the discussion , decoration or repair.
Nieuwenhuis' books show almost nothing but complete examples and sometimes object were even specially made for him.
So considering that a similar exemaple is pictured in Quer durch Borneo , I would surely say it is decoration.

Good luck with the customs.
Do they know it is antler (and not some ivory)

Best regards,
Willem

Maurice · 26th July 2009, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Wow

you actually bought this quality handle.
It must be from the same age as Nieuwenhuis'example. Great buy !!!

Hi Willem, It is not just the handle. It is a complete mandau. I found it at EBAY!
The seller at first didn't know it was a Borneo sword. He put it under the header: Antique Pacific Islander Carved Sword, Java? Sumatra?
Though there were still 11 bidders, I got it for quite a cheap price.

Indeed Nieuwenhuis had some items especially made for him, so indeed unlikely a restore. Good thinking Willem!

Regards,
Maurice

t_c · 26th July 2009, 07:10 PM

Hi Maurice,
It looks like the "bulge" from the weaving rests under the fingers and not the palm of the hand. The Japanese would place menuki (ornaments woven into the handle wrap) on the same side of the handle for a better grip. Maybe this is what the double wrapping is for - to help the wielder get a better purchase on the handle. You'll have to tell us how it feels in the hand when you get it. If nothing else, the weaving does look really nice.

tom

Maurice · 27th July 2009, 08:27 AM

Thanks Tom for your input!

I got an email from an ex-member of the forum: Dajak.
He pointed to me the following link: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=mandau
(thanks Ben)

This one also has this double winding.
So it looks to me that it probably is a kind of decoration, of a certain area (Kutai, east Borneo)!

24th July 2009, 10:04 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Hi Maurice, My guess is also decoration. not repair Same as you have wrapping of metal combined with rattan. Where is this hilt from ? Own colection ? I know that I have seen this type of wrapping before, but I could not think of any book in my collection to find such a picture It would be nice if anybody here had similar handles ? Best regards, Willem

26th July 2009, 01:11 AM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Yes, Nieuwenhuis. I did not check it and was confussing it with the other hilt with the bead winding in Quer durch Borneo. Wow you actually bought this quality handle. It must be from the same age as Nieuwenhuis'example. Great buy !!! As for the discussion , decoration or repair. Nieuwenhuis' books show almost nothing but complete examples and sometimes object were even specially made for him. So considering that a similar exemaple is pictured in Quer durch Borneo , I would surely say it is decoration. Good luck with the customs. Do they know it is antler (and not some ivory) Best regards, Willem

26th July 2009, 07:10 PM	#6
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	Hi Maurice, It looks like the "bulge" from the weaving rests under the fingers and not the palm of the hand. The Japanese would place menuki (ornaments woven into the handle wrap) on the same side of the handle for a better grip. Maybe this is what the double wrapping is for - to help the wielder get a better purchase on the handle. You'll have to tell us how it feels in the hand when you get it. If nothing else, the weaving does look really nice. tom

27th July 2009, 08:27 AM	#7
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,453	Thanks Tom for your input! I got an email from an ex-member of the forum: Dajak. He pointed to me the following link: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=mandau (thanks Ben) This one also has this double winding. So it looks to me that it probably is a kind of decoration, of a certain area (Kutai, east Borneo)!