Rare Borneo Sword - Parang Bedak

VVV · 8th January 2014, 07:42 PM

I was quit lucky before X-mas.
With the help of one of my favorite forumites

I was finally able to get a parang bedak.
This is the second, but best, I have seen on the market the last 10 years.

Michael

PS It is about 80% the size of a regular mandau but much heavier.

VANDOO · 8th January 2014, 08:49 PM

WHICH TRIBAL GROUPS USE THIS FORM OF CHOPPER AND WHERE IN BORNEO. IS IT MOSTLY A WORK KNIFE OR DOES IT PLAY ANY PART IN TRIBAL CEREMONIES. A NICE FIND WITH INTERESTING CARVED DESIGNS CONGRADULATIONS.

VVV · 8th January 2014, 09:08 PM

Thanks!

It was found in SE Borneo, upstreams from Banjarmasin, and except Schmeltz 1892 not much is written about it.

Michael

Maurice · 9th January 2014, 04:42 PM

Michael, that's a most wonderfull addition to a wonderfull collection!
How did you manage to get this one???

Besides yours, I have never seen others on the market, nor in private collections.
The only few I know off, are very early collected (pre 1850), and are in museumcollections. But this parang bedak is such rare, that also the ones in the Dutch museums can be count on the fingers of one hand!

Ofcourse the "most famous" parang bedaks are the one from Muller in the Leiden museum, and the one in the Bronbeekmuseumcollection.
Also you can see dayak's wearing such bedak on the drawings in Muller's book about his expedition!

I think most of the collectors (even collectors with a Borneo collection), don't realise how rare and old this one is!
Congratulations with this great find.

Kind regards,
Maurice

Royston · 9th January 2014, 05:43 PM

Very nice Michael. I have never seen one.

VVV · 9th January 2014, 08:41 PM

Thanks Royston and thanks (again) Maurice.

I forgot the illustration in Salomon Müller.
There was another one, with a more plain scabbard, for sale in Switzerland 6-8 years ago.

Michael

Maurice · 9th January 2014, 09:55 PM

Here the one from Muller, collected in the early 1800's.
Unfortunately never have seen this one in real and took it just from the Leiden database...

Maurice · 9th January 2014, 09:59 PM

And here the one that was donated by Prehn Wiesse to Bronbeek in 1866.
This one I was priviliged to see two seperate times, and also was able to take photographs.

asomotif · 9th January 2014, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

And here the one that was donated by Prehn Wiesse to Bronbeek in 1866.
This one I was priviliged to see two seperate times, and also was able to take photographs.

Wow, Maurice,
That is a nice one at Bronbeek.
I don't remember seeing that one in the depot.

+ congrats Michael.

I did not know the name and origin of this parang, and was not aware how rare it was when I saw it the first time.
Now I know, I will just have to wait for a second one to come for sale

( I am still young and hope to continue collecting for 20 or 30 years

)

Best regards,
Willem

8th January 2014, 07:42 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Rare Borneo Sword - Parang Bedak I was quit lucky before X-mas. With the help of one of my favorite forumites I was finally able to get a parang bedak. This is the second, but best, I have seen on the market the last 10 years. Michael PS It is about 80% the size of a regular mandau but much heavier. Attached Images

9th January 2014, 09:55 PM	#7
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	Here the one from Muller, collected in the early 1800's. Unfortunately never have seen this one in real and took it just from the Leiden database... Attached Images

9th January 2014, 09:59 PM	#8
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	And here the one that was donated by Prehn Wiesse to Bronbeek in 1866. This one I was priviliged to see two seperate times, and also was able to take photographs. Attached Images

8th January 2014, 08:49 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WHICH TRIBAL GROUPS USE THIS FORM OF CHOPPER AND WHERE IN BORNEO. IS IT MOSTLY A WORK KNIFE OR DOES IT PLAY ANY PART IN TRIBAL CEREMONIES. A NICE FIND WITH INTERESTING CARVED DESIGNS CONGRADULATIONS.

8th January 2014, 09:08 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks! It was found in SE Borneo, upstreams from Banjarmasin, and except Schmeltz 1892 not much is written about it. Michael

9th January 2014, 04:42 PM	#4
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	Michael, that's a most wonderfull addition to a wonderfull collection! How did you manage to get this one??? Besides yours, I have never seen others on the market, nor in private collections. The only few I know off, are very early collected (pre 1850), and are in museumcollections. But this parang bedak is such rare, that also the ones in the Dutch museums can be count on the fingers of one hand! Ofcourse the "most famous" parang bedaks are the one from Muller in the Leiden museum, and the one in the Bronbeekmuseumcollection. Also you can see dayak's wearing such bedak on the drawings in Muller's book about his expedition! I think most of the collectors (even collectors with a Borneo collection), don't realise how rare and old this one is! Congratulations with this great find. Kind regards, Maurice

9th January 2014, 05:43 PM	#5
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Very nice Michael. I have never seen one.

9th January 2014, 08:41 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Royston and thanks (again) Maurice. I forgot the illustration in Salomon Müller. There was another one, with a more plain scabbard, for sale in Switzerland 6-8 years ago. Michael