Dayak Spear with Aso-motives

VVV · 23rd March 2006, 10:31 PM

Just wanted to share my excitement with those of you who also are interested in Borneo spears.
Since I saw the reference picture in Bodrogi's Art of Indonesia below I have been looking for a Dayak spear with aso-motives on the blade.
Collectors of 50+ years on Borneo weapons told me that there is no such thing and Bodrogi must have made the drawing based on his imagination.
Then I noticed in the Juynboll Leiden catalogues (see below) that one of the spears had aso motives and this month I managed to find one myself.

Enjoy!

Michael

CharlesS · 24th March 2006, 12:21 AM

Very nice Triple-V!!!

VANDOO · 24th March 2006, 02:10 AM

CONGRADULATIONS ON A RARE FIND!

EVEN RELATIVY PLAIN DAYAK SPEARS SEEM TO BE IN VERY SHORT SUPPLY AS I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE FOR SALE YET. I SAW A NICE DISPLAY OF THEM IN THE MUSEUM IN KUCHING ,SARAWAK, THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE MORE COMMON INDONESIAN AND MALAYSIAN SPEARS WHICH I SAW QUITE A FEW OF IN THE SHOPS BUT NO NATIVE DAYAK ONES. THE BLADES ARE LARGER AND DIFFERENT IN SHAPE, THEY ARE OFTEN MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF THE SHAFT LIKE THE BLADES ON THE BLOWGUNS. DIFFERENT TRIBES HAD DIFFERENT FORMS AND MOUNTING METHODS, THEY ALSO HAD LONG SHAFTS CONSIDERING THE SIZE OF THE WARRIORS WHO USED THEM. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE MUSEUMS EXAMPLES HAD ASO DESIGNS ON THE BLADES BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED WHERE THEY WERE NOT IN EVIDENCE. WHAT ARE THE MEASUREMENTS ON YOUR EXAMPLE?

John · 24th March 2006, 03:07 AM

It has been continually amazing to see rare and often never before seen Borneon stuffs some of which one (me particularly) never knew existed popping up at the forum from time to time. The Sabah Museum is quite an embarassment for references and it's heartening to see esteemed collectors elsewhere such as Ben (Dajak), Michael (VVV) etc preserving, sharing and surprising... Actually Borneon stuffs have never quite been amongst my interests (and still is) until Vandoo got my attention with the pakayun (which I didn't know what the hack it was then)...

and subsequently got me paying a little more attention here and there and it's both interesting and amazing to note more Borneon enthusiasts outside than within. Some of my Iban/Dayak collegues do not know what a mandau is and have never heard of the term.

mmontoro · 24th March 2006, 05:25 AM

Beautiful piece - thank you for sharing it and the reference images.

M.

VVV · 24th March 2006, 09:09 AM

Vandoo,

The spear is 232 cm with its hardwood shaft and the spearpoint, without tang, is 40 cm.
So it has the lenght, size and traditional rattan sidemount as you described.
The spearpoint was loose when I recieved it and I don't dare to push in the tang all the way in case it would destroy the old rattan bindings.

John,

I recognise your lack of excitment. The same for me regarding Scandinavian knives and the related Finnish Puukkos (sp?) that the US collectors find exotic. Never even heard about that name before joining this list.
If you ask a Swede for a Puukko he will either serve you a chocolate milk drink or start to laugh because Pucko is slang for an idiot.
Mandau isn't an Iban word. Maybe they know it as Ilang?
But traditionally Ibans didn't carry Mandaus until the 19th C when it was adopted from other Dayak tribes. Niabor, Langgai Tinggang and later Jimpul are the traditional Iban Parangs. And the more ritual Pedang that looks like the Batak Piso Podang.

Michael

23rd March 2006, 10:31 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Dayak Spear with Aso-motives Just wanted to share my excitement with those of you who also are interested in Borneo spears. Since I saw the reference picture in Bodrogi's Art of Indonesia below I have been looking for a Dayak spear with aso-motives on the blade. Collectors of 50+ years on Borneo weapons told me that there is no such thing and Bodrogi must have made the drawing based on his imagination. Then I noticed in the Juynboll Leiden catalogues (see below) that one of the spears had aso motives and this month I managed to find one myself. Enjoy! Michael Attached Images

24th March 2006, 12:21 AM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Very nice Triple-V!!!

24th March 2006, 02:10 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS ON A RARE FIND! EVEN RELATIVY PLAIN DAYAK SPEARS SEEM TO BE IN VERY SHORT SUPPLY AS I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE FOR SALE YET. I SAW A NICE DISPLAY OF THEM IN THE MUSEUM IN KUCHING ,SARAWAK, THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE MORE COMMON INDONESIAN AND MALAYSIAN SPEARS WHICH I SAW QUITE A FEW OF IN THE SHOPS BUT NO NATIVE DAYAK ONES. THE BLADES ARE LARGER AND DIFFERENT IN SHAPE, THEY ARE OFTEN MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF THE SHAFT LIKE THE BLADES ON THE BLOWGUNS. DIFFERENT TRIBES HAD DIFFERENT FORMS AND MOUNTING METHODS, THEY ALSO HAD LONG SHAFTS CONSIDERING THE SIZE OF THE WARRIORS WHO USED THEM. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE MUSEUMS EXAMPLES HAD ASO DESIGNS ON THE BLADES BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED WHERE THEY WERE NOT IN EVIDENCE. WHAT ARE THE MEASUREMENTS ON YOUR EXAMPLE?

24th March 2006, 03:07 AM	#4
John Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Land below the wind Posts: 135	It has been continually amazing to see rare and often never before seen Borneon stuffs some of which one (me particularly) never knew existed popping up at the forum from time to time. The Sabah Museum is quite an embarassment for references and it's heartening to see esteemed collectors elsewhere such as Ben (Dajak), Michael (VVV) etc preserving, sharing and surprising... Actually Borneon stuffs have never quite been amongst my interests (and still is) until Vandoo got my attention with the pakayun (which I didn't know what the hack it was then)... and subsequently got me paying a little more attention here and there and it's both interesting and amazing to note more Borneon enthusiasts outside than within. Some of my Iban/Dayak collegues do not know what a mandau is and have never heard of the term.

24th March 2006, 05:25 AM	#5
mmontoro Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 91	Beautiful piece - thank you for sharing it and the reference images. M.

24th March 2006, 09:09 AM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Vandoo, The spear is 232 cm with its hardwood shaft and the spearpoint, without tang, is 40 cm. So it has the lenght, size and traditional rattan sidemount as you described. The spearpoint was loose when I recieved it and I don't dare to push in the tang all the way in case it would destroy the old rattan bindings. John, I recognise your lack of excitment. The same for me regarding Scandinavian knives and the related Finnish Puukkos (sp?) that the US collectors find exotic. Never even heard about that name before joining this list. If you ask a Swede for a Puukko he will either serve you a chocolate milk drink or start to laugh because Pucko is slang for an idiot. Mandau isn't an Iban word. Maybe they know it as Ilang? But traditionally Ibans didn't carry Mandaus until the 19th C when it was adopted from other Dayak tribes. Niabor, Langgai Tinggang and later Jimpul are the traditional Iban Parangs. And the more ritual Pedang that looks like the Batak Piso Podang. Michael