Help with ID....Jimpul?...Mandau?

mmontoro · 21st March 2006, 06:11 PM

Please help with the classification of this Borneo piece. The lines that distinguish what is and is not a Jimpul are fuzzy to me. This piece has a laminated, curved blade without the krowit protrusions, but there is an un-sharpened area for several inches of the blade just forward of the hilt. The sides of the blade are flat, without the convex/concave cross-section of a Mandau. The quality of the carving seems unusually good and is highlighted by a grinning face positioned so that the tuft of hair emanates from his head. There is the head of what appears to be a serpent or turtle peeking out from the swirling primordial soup of the carving's imagery and long skinny arms with hands along the sides of the hilt. This is a favorite of mine - the hilt is like a living thing and the wacky expression on the face almost makes one forget this object's intended purpose. Can anyone determine if the hilt is antler or bone? There was some discussion of the characteristics of Jimpuls on Dajak's excellent thread, but I didn't want to hijack it by posting there. I would appreciate all opinions.

The carving of the long arm with the hand is better on this side

The small head peeking out can be seen on the lower left, upside-down

reverse side of face

Small reptile? head

nechesh · 21st March 2006, 06:24 PM

From my limited understanding this would not be a jimpul as it is missing some key components. I don't know if you still call it a mandau with a curved blade though. I think Dajak or Michael would know better.

I love the carving on this hilt, at once sophisticated and whimsical. I also like your display stand. Did you make it?

mmontoro · 21st March 2006, 06:52 PM

Based on my limited knowledge, I agree with you. That's what has me scratching my head. On the stand I furnished the antlers and had a gentleman who makes custom humidors and jewlery boxes do the rest. The design is copied from Japanese katana kake stands although their bases are often more artistic. The one in this photo from Stone's Glossary has a base of carved teak.

VVV · 21st March 2006, 09:43 PM

That's a really interesting one you have found.
Please let me know if you think the blade is heavier than a regular Mandau?
But if it is what I think it is probably it's better to wait for Dajak's comment. Because then it's not fully described in the old reference books and articles and my limited knowledge on it is based on what Dajak has told me about it.

Michael

mmontoro · 21st March 2006, 10:29 PM

Michael,

I just got my mandaus out and handled them and their blades are heavy. The blade on the sword in the photos is also heavy, but in a different way. It is thick towards the hilt and distally tapered so that the point of balance is more toward the hand and less toward the tip of the blade. I would not say it is heavier than the mandaus. Thanks for your reply - now I am curious.

Manny

Dajak · 21st March 2006, 11:41 PM

Hi on the first impression this is an parang pedang

It is a nice interesting piece can you make some close up pics below the handle

Than I might see what it is.

VANDOO · 22nd March 2006, 12:29 AM

A VERY NICE PIECE, I WISH YOU HAD THE SCABBARD ALSO AS A LOT OF INFORMATION CAN BE GAINED FROM THEM ALSO. I AM LIKE YOU AS FAR AS TO WHAT A DAYAK SWORD IS TO BE CALLED NOW, I USED TO JUST CALL THEM ALL MANDAU

. NOW THERE ARE MANY MORE CHOICES AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GOOD REFRENCES TO TELL WHAT IS WHAT. THE ONLY HELP I CAN GIVE ON YOUR FINE EXAMPLE IS TO OFFER TO KEEP IT HERE WITH ME FOR A YEAR OR TWO AND SLEEP WITH IT UNDER MY PILLOW AND SEE IF IT WILL IDENTIFY ITSELF

I THINK THE HANDLE IS CARVED FROM DEER ANTLER RATHER THAN BONE.

mmontoro · 22nd March 2006, 01:14 AM

Barry, you are too kind ;^)

Dajak, here are some more - I am not certain which views you want to see.

mmontoro · 22nd March 2006, 02:31 AM

This one wouldn't fit in the last post

Dajak · 22nd March 2006, 09:17 AM

Hi thanks for the pics the blade is the style off the parang pedang.

The Handle might be replaced or a variation on the Handle.

A very nice example (If you wanna part it you now my email address

)

The handle sty is Iban looks like it is from the North

VVV · 22nd March 2006, 09:34 AM

Your Parang is really unique!
As Dajak states it's closest to an Iban version of a Parang Pedang.
The classic Parang Pedang has a completely different hilt, like the one on Latoks.
What makes me hesitate, more than Dajak does, is also the tip of the blade.
All Parang Pedangs I have seen has another kind of tip with a slope in the other direction.

Michael

mmontoro · 22nd March 2006, 12:33 PM

Thank you, gentlemen.

Manny

21st March 2006, 06:11 PM	#1
mmontoro Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 91	Help with ID....Jimpul?...Mandau? Please help with the classification of this Borneo piece. The lines that distinguish what is and is not a Jimpul are fuzzy to me. This piece has a laminated, curved blade without the krowit protrusions, but there is an un-sharpened area for several inches of the blade just forward of the hilt. The sides of the blade are flat, without the convex/concave cross-section of a Mandau. The quality of the carving seems unusually good and is highlighted by a grinning face positioned so that the tuft of hair emanates from his head. There is the head of what appears to be a serpent or turtle peeking out from the swirling primordial soup of the carving's imagery and long skinny arms with hands along the sides of the hilt. This is a favorite of mine - the hilt is like a living thing and the wacky expression on the face almost makes one forget this object's intended purpose. Can anyone determine if the hilt is antler or bone? There was some discussion of the characteristics of Jimpuls on Dajak's excellent thread, but I didn't want to hijack it by posting there. I would appreciate all opinions. The carving of the long arm with the hand is better on this side The small head peeking out can be seen on the lower left, upside-down reverse side of face Small reptile? head Last edited by mmontoro; 21st March 2006 at 07:17 PM.

21st March 2006, 06:52 PM	#3
mmontoro Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 91	Stand Based on my limited knowledge, I agree with you. That's what has me scratching my head. On the stand I furnished the antlers and had a gentleman who makes custom humidors and jewlery boxes do the rest. The design is copied from Japanese katana kake stands although their bases are often more artistic. The one in this photo from Stone's Glossary has a base of carved teak.

22nd March 2006, 01:14 AM	#8
mmontoro Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 91	Barry, you are too kind ;^) Dajak, here are some more - I am not certain which views you want to see. Last edited by mmontoro; 22nd March 2006 at 02:09 AM.

22nd March 2006, 02:31 AM	#9
mmontoro Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 91	one last one This one wouldn't fit in the last post

22nd March 2006, 12:33 PM	#12
mmontoro Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 91	tack, dank Thank you, gentlemen. Manny

21st March 2006, 06:24 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	From my limited understanding this would not be a jimpul as it is missing some key components. I don't know if you still call it a mandau with a curved blade though. I think Dajak or Michael would know better. I love the carving on this hilt, at once sophisticated and whimsical. I also like your display stand. Did you make it?

21st March 2006, 09:43 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	That's a really interesting one you have found. Please let me know if you think the blade is heavier than a regular Mandau? But if it is what I think it is probably it's better to wait for Dajak's comment. Because then it's not fully described in the old reference books and articles and my limited knowledge on it is based on what Dajak has told me about it. Michael

21st March 2006, 10:29 PM	#5
mmontoro Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 91	Michael, I just got my mandaus out and handled them and their blades are heavy. The blade on the sword in the photos is also heavy, but in a different way. It is thick towards the hilt and distally tapered so that the point of balance is more toward the hand and less toward the tip of the blade. I would not say it is heavier than the mandaus. Thanks for your reply - now I am curious. Manny

21st March 2006, 11:41 PM	#6
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi on the first impression this is an parang pedang It is a nice interesting piece can you make some close up pics below the handle Than I might see what it is.

22nd March 2006, 12:29 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A VERY NICE PIECE, I WISH YOU HAD THE SCABBARD ALSO AS A LOT OF INFORMATION CAN BE GAINED FROM THEM ALSO. I AM LIKE YOU AS FAR AS TO WHAT A DAYAK SWORD IS TO BE CALLED NOW, I USED TO JUST CALL THEM ALL MANDAU . NOW THERE ARE MANY MORE CHOICES AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GOOD REFRENCES TO TELL WHAT IS WHAT. THE ONLY HELP I CAN GIVE ON YOUR FINE EXAMPLE IS TO OFFER TO KEEP IT HERE WITH ME FOR A YEAR OR TWO AND SLEEP WITH IT UNDER MY PILLOW AND SEE IF IT WILL IDENTIFY ITSELF I THINK THE HANDLE IS CARVED FROM DEER ANTLER RATHER THAN BONE.

22nd March 2006, 09:17 AM	#10
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi thanks for the pics the blade is the style off the parang pedang. The Handle might be replaced or a variation on the Handle. A very nice example (If you wanna part it you now my email address ) The handle sty is Iban looks like it is from the North

22nd March 2006, 09:34 AM	#11
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Your Parang is really unique! As Dajak states it's closest to an Iban version of a Parang Pedang. The classic Parang Pedang has a completely different hilt, like the one on Latoks. What makes me hesitate, more than Dajak does, is also the tip of the blade. All Parang Pedangs I have seen has another kind of tip with a slope in the other direction. Michael