Unusual mandau
 

Here is a, probably Ot Danum, parang with a quite unusual "wild" wooden variation of hilt.
Does anyone of the forumites have another one as a reference?

Michael

What kind of date would you give this one VVV?

Hello Michael,

Interesting combination of hilt and scabbard.
The scabbard is very finely carved , while the hilt is very crudely carved.

I would guess this to be 1st half 20th century (imho)

Best regards,
Willem

Hi all, indeed the first thing that came into my mind was that it is Kenyah -as they always have a very wild and intricate style- although the handle resembles a more (impractical?!) jungle-inspired carving. Also the copperwire (on the handle)I have seen before on typical Ot Danum mandaus.
The blade seems to be a 'general' tradesblade more used by the Kenyahs than the Ot Danum as the last are located closer to ironores and smithies.

Attached my map of Borneo with the locations of the different tribes (mostly from Hornbill n Dragon and few other reliable books).

Very nice and unusual carved handle; I also never seen a mandau like it.
Thanks for sharing!

Hi Michael,

very unusual mandau indeed! On the close up from the handle I can see that it was unprofessional reglued with superglue at some areas. When I am you I would let restore this parts. Thank's for charing with us this mandau. :)

Regards,

Detlef

Yes, it's the first half of 20th C and it needs to be restored at the glued breaks. I don't think it's crudely made but that it is supposed to show the wild nature as a source for power.
There is one more with a similar kind of handle from the same collection that now is in one of the top Dutch collections. And then there is also supposed to be one in a museum (Pusat?) in Jakarta. I was hoping that some forumite maybe had a no 4 or 5?

Michael