Bird-head Panabas
Very much as the last moment I decided to go take a walk through the Hartford show and found the below odd bird at the table of a dealer who is clearing out a large ethnographic collection assembled a few decades ago for an estate.
This hilt is 12 and 1/2 inches long. The hardwood does not seem to have much age on it at all, but the silver ferrules and wire wrap are a bit loose, testifying to some shrinkage. I seriously doubt these are the first mountings for the blade.
I will, in due course, borrow a camera and get some photos of the blade taken and posted. For now, though, I would like to ask for your opinions on how much age this hilt has on it and whether it was made for local or tourist taste.
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