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This is an another Iban mandau can we call this an Jimpull afther Shellfords publication ??
Or just call it seadajak parang/mandau This one did belong to Coppens . Ben |
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Than I or other forumites can try to educate you, because it really surprises me that you did not notice this. Ps. And what an amazing coincidence that the wooden (not spectacular hilt) that was on this parang when it was for sale at Artzi's, ended up on a mandau that I bought from you only a few months later. such a small world. you really should be more carefull what you buy. (And where you post the pictures ;) ) |
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Ps. And what an amazing coincidence that the wooden (not spectacular hilt) that was on this parang when it was for sale at Artzi's, ended up on a mandau that I bought from you only a few months later. such a small world.
Willem If I where you I would more be carefull saying things with no proof like above and you did with the rentjong . You suggesting here something that I don't like. You even can't remeber how much time I visit you that is telling me enough. Here are an pic off an metal band Ben |
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Has the "mandau from the Dusun tribe" a flat blade with the same decorations on both sides? Michael |
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No it isn't flat, its holow like a mandau should be. here some pics Arjan |
That's a bit odd if it should be Dusun as they didn't produce ilang themselves but acquired them from Sarawak or mostly Kalimantan?
The parang they did manufacture is the gayang with flat sides and usually ornaments on both sides. Maybe your parang ilang is from one of the coastal tribes in Sarawak instead of Dusun? Michael |
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Can you show me an example of the parang Gayang? Arjan see link http://collectie.tropenmuseum.nl/nBa...=&culturenode= |
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I base my comment on both Evans' and Rutter's ethnographic works describing weapon production among the Dusun.
According to them if it's an ilang then it's most likely "imported" from another tribe outside North of Borneo. Here are two examples of what might be a Gayang. Michael |
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Also Rutter writes that some of the pagan blacksmiths have learnt their manufacture and occasonally turn out weapons of good workmanship. On the other way the work of Rutter is mainly written around 1920 that was a times where the North part of Borneo was changing by trade, British rulers who has forbidden headhunting and other influences. Its possible that the mandaus I mentioned are made before this time. Mines has a coin from 1907 ( which doesn't proof of course that its made in 1907) In my opinion the style ( in carving,not the blades) is to different from the Iban.The baldes of the gayang you show looks to be imported form the west indeed but maybe where decorated with Dusun designs? |
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Please also have a look in Evans page 189-190 to get the overall picture of my conclusion. On Rutter's comment I understand that it refers more to gayang than the ilang? Your opinion quoted above, as I understand it, I find very probable. That even if the blades maybe were imported the decorations (=dress, hilt, carvings) are locally made and Dusun. Similar to the trade blades in the keris world. In several Kalimantan sources we read that the best ilang blades were traded to other tribes... Michael |
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I don't have Evans here at hand, but whatever he writes know that he based his work mainly on the Tempasuk Dusun ( where he was located) and other coastal groups of Dusun. Kinabatangan is a whole different area. The Dusun around the Kinbatangan are from the other Dusun groups living inland. I think that its good possible that the "parang gayang" was the trade parang and was obtained from kampong Gayang what quite close at the coast in Sabah. see link http://www.maplandia.com/malaysia/sabah/kampong-gayang/ The Dusun mandau I ahve seen have blades that looks like the blades from the Baram rivergroups. I don't think that the Dusun blacksmith where able to produce such masterpieces. The blade of my example is very simple and I can imagine that its possible that its made locally. Its hollow but not that way like a good kayan or kenyah blade. Arjan. |
Hi Arjan,
It's correct that Evans was based in West Sabah but the problem is that I don't know of anybody who did any research on the Eastern Dusun. Do you? Also naming a group of people living in such a widespread area as Dusun overall is problematic. Having travelled myself in both of these areas I find it probable that a lot of the trade along the river of Kinabatangan might have originated from the vivid commercial metropol of Sandakan. This means that among the Eastern Dusun probably a lot more of direct Sulu influence was present than on the West side where Brunei were more influential in trade items? All villages are located close to the river today and I find it hard to believe that it was different 100+ years ago based on the dense jungles. I tried to get permission from the local guides when there to take a jungle walk but they explained to me that it was too dense and no paths. So from what I have experience this area is quite different from for instance along the Mahakam river in Kalimantan where there are a lot of paths between villages and not everything centers around the river. On the trade blades I am of the complete different opinion based on the books I referred to. Have you found any other source or why do you think that the simpler, only locally produced parang was the trade version? On your blade I hope to see it next time we meet to comment it further on how hollow it is etc. Michael |
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East Sabah seems to be not as much visited and researched as the west part. I know for example that Osa Johnson landed there with his catalina on the kinabatangan river ( will list pics tomorrow). writers I only found two specific on the east: Doroty Cator "everyday life among the headhunters"and D.D.Daly explorations in British North Borneo 1883-1887 Both books I have not read yet. Reading the book of Rutter we see that it was just the western part of Sabah where a lot of trade was , also from Chinese and Bajau. there where still markets there with 700 stands ! Also if you see the photo's of the book of Rutter you see philippine weapons in use at the western part of Sabah. I also found googling the word "Gayang" often related to the philippines and should be the word for "sword". Is maybe a parang gayang the word for an imported sword from the philippines? Or was it reproduced in the north borneo? Maybe im wrong that also possible but its remarkable that he doesn't speak about phillipine weaponery in the chapter where he is talking about swords. I don't mean that I didn't believe that the Dusun imported sword or mandaublades, of course they did. I think however that the handles and scabbards where made locally by Dusun craftsman, sometimes with locally made blades ( krowit-less simple examples) and sometimes with good imported blades. well however it is its a interesting discussion and you let me start reading again! :) Arjan. |
The only thing that I can say to it that the Kenya and Kayan where famous for their blades and a lot off Iban, Murut and other ones did get Parang Ilang blades from them .( By Buying ,Trading or by Killing )
This you can see on old pics . Also is it important wich time what happend a lot off people did think they where in an certain area but that was not the place they where . And we now a lot of people mixed up things at that time . But always interesting this type off discussion because we all can learn from it. Maybe when you come over Michael it is nice we 3 meet together to discus some new piece s that I will get. Ben Ben |
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Thanks for the link Arjan!!!
I haven't read this book yet and wasn't aware that it was about East Sabah too. On the use of Filipino weapons among Dusun in West Sabah both barong/pida and kris/sundang were common. Another imported weapon was the pedang from Brunei. Everything described in detail in Evans' book. On trade Sandakan was the major trade city in the old days and it also used to belong to the Sulu Sultanate. Actually along the East coast, as well as the North coast, there are still today close contact with Philippines. I visited Sipadan island the first time I was in Sabah and a year later there was a kidnapping of tourists at that island by the Abu Sayaf. I also remember seeing some Tausug when in Semporna. On gayang I am aware that it's also sometimes found in the Philippines but it's described as a weapon originating from Borneo (can't remember the source at the moment for this, sorry). Ben, that sounds like a great idea. Let's try to get together all three of us next time when I am in Holland. Or maybe it's time for you two to visit me? Michael |
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Not an bad idee Michael Ben |
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But I was already quite happy last week that I could finally pull over my wife and kids to go to Florence this summer. I had to push a little course they wanted to Rome but I told them that Florence has more beauty,art, etc ( and also a the museum with the Nias collection of Elio Modigliani :D :D :D ) Arjan |
OK, folks, let me throw a bit more gas on the fire!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=370140508160 |
To me it looks like an old West Kalimantan Iban Jimpul with a rare kind of scabbard.
The end like Ben's and the quite rare red colour on the wood. That's why I bought it and hope I am right when I recieve it. Michael |
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Here an rare type blade that we only see with the Muruts .
Ben |
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Here is the jimpul with the rare scabbard that Ariel asked about before I got it. It looks nice and old all over.
The only thing I am not sure about is how old the red and yellow colour is on the scabbard. I gave the blade a light cleaning. Unfortunately the light is a problem here up North at this time of the year for pictures. Michael |
Hi Michael,
A special scabbard. Do you think the ratta strip on the edge is original I would leave the paint on the scabbard. It will probably not be as old as the scabbard itself, but I think it was an original (tribal) addition at some time. I do'nt think the paint was some addition to improve the market value on ebay For a better market value he should have cleaned the blade before auctioning I saw this one too and even thought about placing a bid. But than the finacial crisis struck :( ;) What do you think of the handle ? It is not newly made, but is it as old as the blade and scabbard ? Best regards, Willem |
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Hi Willem,
The rattan strip is unusual as it differs from the Kutei/Mahakam style were it sticks out at the end of the scabbard, instead of in front of it like this one. But I have seen another W Kalimantan style jimpul with this feature in a museum. It also had a red scabbard, the same style of blade and resembling hilt motivs (but antler hilt). I also think the colour is added later by a former Iban owner and I will let it stay on. On the handle I have this parang, also W Kalimantan Iban, with a slightly resembling wooden hilt style (see picture). It even has the same kind of Borneo coin attached to the grip! That one was field-collected around 1920. I think the handle on the jimpul is at least early 1900's. Michael |
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That is a nice handle.
What is the diameter of the coins ? It looks like the dutch indies 2,5 cents coin. I have one from 1945, but I have no idea when they started making these. (pictures are a bit blurred, but this looks like the same coin / 31 mm across) Best regards, |
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Pakfung Paktong Alpaca German Silver Berlin Silver White Metal Different names for the same alloy. I am an ignorant on this kind of weapons, and this reference to the use of german silver on them is an interesting point. I wonder if this was a common feature on their craft, and since when. This can be useful in dating an item, as it is on the case of the khukris. Regards Gonzalo |
Willem, it looks like that coin and size is roughly the same.
Gonzalo, that kind of alloy as on Ben's handle isn't "standard" on these parang. Michael |
Thank you, Michael. This data is useful to me.
Regards Gonzalo |
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