Correctly Identifying a Borneo Sword

[CharlesS]

Were it 15 years ago I would simply have identified the sword pictured below as a Dyak mandau...on the assumption it's Dyak, so it must be a mandau.

Probably about 7 years ago I would have changed that assumption to rename it a jimpul...it is Dyak and curved, so it must be a jimpul.

I would have been wrong on both counts....

Over the last several years our Borneo specialists, most notably VVV, Maurice, MandauKudi, and Asomotif have proven to us that we can explore much more deeply the correct classification of Dyak weapons based on specific details and nuances.

Now I am trying to correctly identify the latest addition to my Dyak collection and I can best ascertain from Shelford/Banks that this is a tilang kamarau, and according the Shelford is a later addition to the Dyak arsenal(post 1902).

I am hoping the "Borneo gang" will chime in and tell me if I am correct or not and feel free to correct me if I am wrong and add anything, hopefully the likely location of its specific origin.

[VVV]

Yes Charles, you got it (a tilang kamarau, as described in Baltimore)
I would place it as from South Sarawak and the hilt might be later than the blade.
Maybe you should be a bit careful on using Shelford's date of 1902 as anything else than an indication on when he first saw a TK...

Michael

[CharlesS]

Thanks Michael! What features of the pierced hilt suggest that it is later than the blade?? It has a very nice patina.

Regarding the date, are you suggesting the type/style could be earlier, just unknown to him until then??

[asomotif]

[QUOTE=CharlesS]
Over the last several years our Borneo specialists, most notably VVV, Maurice, and Asomotif have proven to us that we can explore much more deeply the correct classification of Dyak weapons based on specific details and nuances.
QUOTE]

Thank you Charles,
But mentioning me in this context is far too much credit.
I am really not good in the name game.
It should probably read : VVV / Mandaukudi (Arjan) / Maurice :-)

Best regards,
Willem

[VVV]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Thanks Michael! What features of the pierced hilt suggest that it is later than the blade?? It has a very nice patina.

Regarding the date, are you suggesting the type/style could be earlier, just unknown to him until then??

I just have the impression, based on the motifs and how deep they are carved, that this style of hilt is later.
It is always hard to judge age from pictures so I go more on the choice of motifs and the workmanship.
But if it has more patina than what it looks like on your pictures I might be wrong in this case.

On the date, I am a bit skeptic on Shelford stating a certain year without mentioning what he bases his statement on.
So if 1902 was the first year that Shelford saw them they might be a bit older.
But not as old as the parang niabur and even the langgai tinggang, of course.


Michael

[Maurice]

A Very Nice TK Charles!
I would classify this as a Tilang Kemarau also, based on Banks.
But if I was really an expert, I could tell you exactly the differences on all aspects between a "Tilang Kemarau" and a "Suai".
As I do have some ideas about it, I'm not sure about them!
But maybe nobody can tell the exact differences between those two, so we're only driven students of the few in the "top level"?

The blade looks very nice! I myself have the feeling that the blade is the oldest on the TK. It looks to me that the handle and the scabbard could be later and might be from the same date.
Michael described the hypothetis on the handle allready, which I agree upon.
I think the scabbard looks too perfect, and this in combination with the patina made me have this assumption of being also later.
Could we have a close-up of the carvings on the scabbard?

Maurice

[Maurice]

PS. I also realise that I have to be very carefull with my statements.
So I want to emphasize that it's sometimes very hard.
Though I stick to my earlier post, it's not a matter of course!
Also old pieces can have shallow carvings in the handle.
And also very old pieces can be in a too perfect state and with no or little patina when it's collected very early and since than stored at some attic or closet.

I have one with somewhat similar features considering the state and patina. Though the carvings are not very deep (besides of the big curls and the carving on top of the handle which comes out of the handle 3dimensional), the patina isn't that great one should suspect, but it is an old style handle.
PS. It's ex-Paul Vermeire and later ex-Coppens (though not depicted in the Coppens book).

I would love to see the carvings on your scabbard closely Charles!


Maurice

[VVV]

Originally Posted by Maurice

snip
But if I was really an expert, I could tell you exactly the differences on all aspects between a "Tilang Kemarau" and a "Suai".
As I do have some ideas about it, I'm not sure about them!
But maybe nobody can tell the exact differences between those two, so we're only driven students of the few in the "top level"? snip
Maurice

Yes, let us avoid the term Suai until we have more criteria than just one uncommented picture.
The same with some other, more regional, Iban terms for the same category of a parang...

Michael

PS Suai is an Iban village so I suspect that the label is geographic, instead of being another category of parang.

[CharlesS]

Maurice,

Here are some additional pics of the carving. Let us know what you learn from them.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Maurice,

Here are some additional pics of the carving. Let us know what you learn from them.

Thank you Charles for the close ups.

I have the feeling the handle and scabbard are from the same age.
There are a lot of similarities to be found, and they look like they belong together.
As the leeches and other motifs (circles etc.) are not uncommon on handles and scabbards of that area, the combination of some of them on the handle and on the scabbard are a good match.
For instance the little "impellers" (marked with a red square in image 1) on the handle we can also see in the scabbard.
And there are other marks which I also marked with different colours.
I hope you're not color-blind

Maurice

[Albert]

Interesting: this leech(?) looks very much like a korambi!!
Actually, I think it is a korambi.
I don't recall, I have ever seen it before on a Borneo swordhilt.

[CharlesS]

Albert you have great eyes....that surely does look like a korambi!

[VVV]

Quite unusual, indeed.
However, if it is a korambi then it is an additional indicator of a later date of the hilt.

Michael

[Maurice]

Yes Albert,

looks like a korambi indeed.
However I think it's a coincedence that it's looking like a korambi, as there are more like these leeches (kind of curls with this little hole) made as decoration for the handle.
And which you're pointing out is the only one that happens to look like a korambi...

Maurice

[Battara]

I have seen these with leeches - what is the significance behind the usage of leeches?

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Battara

I have seen these with leeches - what is the significance behind the usage of leeches?

Very hard to say.
Sometimes we can see one ore more faces in a handle, of which the "leeches" representatives the limbs. (Though the limbs more often are represented with "bow's").
Between these "clear" figures the carver used other motifs to "fill the gaps" with no specific representation.
I have the feeling most of the leeches have no significant meaning in general.
Often the representation of the figures, mouth's, eyes, ears, limbs (etc.) are carved so stylistical, that's hard to find out what representatives what (in between other "no representative filled out gaps carvings"), an also these stylistical limbs could be looking like "leeches".

In Charles handle I can't tell what the "leeches" representatives unfortunately because of it's stylistic representation.

Maurice

[Maurice]

Text about the "leeches" used by the Bahau tribes by Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis, found "in Central Borneo II" page 364.


A motif, to fill up the empty gaps, is used largly in their swordhandles and - scabbards by the Bahaus, who call these "leeches".

These leeches are perfect for the dajak to use filling these empty gaps, without harming the resemblence with the nature too much...

Maurice

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by VVV

PS Suai is an Iban village so I suspect that the label is geographic, instead of being another category of parang.

Just noticed your note!
So probably a TK found in Suai.... Could be an explanation...

maurice

[T. Koch]

Hi guys,

I'm doing a bump here, because I've recently stumbled across swords of this type and this thread is the first place that i hear the term tilang kamaru. Could any of you please post the 'Banks' and 'Baltimore' references in their full? I'd love to read them!

- thanks in advance!


All the best, - Thor

[VVV]

Hi Thor,

If you bought lot 7180 at your local auction house today the blade is a TK.
(Its hilt, however, seems to be an odd combo?).

The article is E Bank. 1935. Hoplology in Sarawak, The Sarawak Museum Journal, IV (14): 229-241.

Good luck and please post the pictures later.

Michael

[T. Koch]

Hi Michael,

Touche! I've recently been massacred by a couple of nasty bills, and It's been a while since I've had any additions. This however, was an extremely cool gift from my even cooler mom in law.

Thank you so much for the reference, looking forward to checking it out.


Take care, - Thor

[VVV]

Originally Posted by T. Koch

Hi Michael,

Touche! I've recently been massacred by a couple of nasty bills, and It's been a while since I've had any additions. This however, was an extremely cool gift from my even cooler mom in law.

Thank you so much for the reference, looking forward to checking it out.


Take care, - Thor

"Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary" (from the movie, not the books)

Cool mother in law you have found. I have never heard before about any "of those" buying swords for their sons in law.

Michael

[Albert]

I have been trying to find the article:
E. Banks. 1935. Hoplology in Sarawak, The Sarawak Museum Journal, IV (14): 229-241.
Unfortunately I didn't succeed.
Can anyone help me to find a copy?

[Royston]

Like Charles, for the last few years I have been calling this a Jimpal.

Should I be calling it a T.K ?

I second Albert in requesting information on the Banks article.
I have been trawling through the web and can find plenty about Banks and the museum but not the 1935 issue.
Has anyone noticed that the latest edition of the Journal also has an article about swords ?

All comments welcome

Thanks
Roy

[T. Koch]

*Michael* For the first time ever, I have a mom in law, who actually likes me, so I think it's just the mum in law-karma finally swinging my way.

*Roy* That one is clearly a common Parang Sellertomelang! Seriously though, that is a gorgeous hilt (not that the blade is boring). Very crisp and confident carving and delightful to see it still in such great condition. Thanks for sharing!


Cheers, - Thor

[VVV]

Roy,

Your T.K. is an interesting and unusual hybride of elements from Sarawak as well as Central Kalimantan.
Even if it is probably 20th it seems to be a one of a kind...

I have read the latest article, too, and it is mostly a discussion of Shelford's and Banks' articles.

Michael

[Royston]

Thanks Gentlemen

Thor, I prefer the name "Parang Staysonmywall"

Cheers
Roy