mandau with atypical hilt

Green · 11th December 2015, 03:40 PM

I just bought this mandau (without scabbard) on Ebay. The blade is typical enough and quite plain and ordinary but I was struck by the rather unusual (to me) hilt.

Can anyone inform what kind of mandau this is? where was it likely from (which part of borneo) and from which tribe? The mandau was described as brought back (to Europe) by a missionary in early 20th c.

David · 11th December 2015, 06:36 PM

That's a nice looking mandau. I like the blade. Too bad there is no scabbard. The hilt doesn't look all that unusual to me. What do you find strange about it? This isn't exactly my area of study, but most probably someone here will be along in a bit who can ID the tribal motifs used in this hilt.

Green · 11th December 2015, 11:11 PM

David;

Apart from a few 'leeches' motif, and probably an aso head at the tip of the hilt, I find the shape and other decoration unusual for a mandau hilt.And I don't see any cavity for hair tufts decoration which is usally present for mandaus. I'm basing my observation on pics only as I've yet to recieve the real thing.

Henk · 12th December 2015, 08:43 PM

Green,

For the hair tufts cavity i believe i see at the end of the protrusion of the hilt something as a peg used to secure the hair tufts in the cavity. At the top of the hilt I'm pretty sure, although on the pictures not visible, there will be a cavity for a hair tuft as well.
Although the hilt doesn't look unusual to me either i think you've got yourself a very nice mandau.
By the way, not every mandau hilt is decorated with hair tufts.

Dajak · 18th December 2015, 10:17 PM

You ave there an great piece...

Looks like kayan/kenya

Dajak

11th December 2015, 03:40 PM	#1
Green Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Malaysia Posts: 307	mandau with atypical hilt I just bought this mandau (without scabbard) on Ebay. The blade is typical enough and quite plain and ordinary but I was struck by the rather unusual (to me) hilt. Can anyone inform what kind of mandau this is? where was it likely from (which part of borneo) and from which tribe? The mandau was described as brought back (to Europe) by a missionary in early 20th c. Attached Images

11th December 2015, 06:36 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,025	That's a nice looking mandau. I like the blade. Too bad there is no scabbard. The hilt doesn't look all that unusual to me. What do you find strange about it? This isn't exactly my area of study, but most probably someone here will be along in a bit who can ID the tribal motifs used in this hilt.

11th December 2015, 11:11 PM	#3
Green Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Malaysia Posts: 307	David; Apart from a few 'leeches' motif, and probably an aso head at the tip of the hilt, I find the shape and other decoration unusual for a mandau hilt.And I don't see any cavity for hair tufts decoration which is usally present for mandaus. I'm basing my observation on pics only as I've yet to recieve the real thing.

12th December 2015, 08:43 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Green, For the hair tufts cavity i believe i see at the end of the protrusion of the hilt something as a peg used to secure the hair tufts in the cavity. At the top of the hilt I'm pretty sure, although on the pictures not visible, there will be a cavity for a hair tuft as well. Although the hilt doesn't look unusual to me either i think you've got yourself a very nice mandau. By the way, not every mandau hilt is decorated with hair tufts.

18th December 2015, 10:17 PM	#5
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	You ave there an great piece... Looks like kayan/kenya Dajak