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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 311
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I have this mandau hilt with motifs that I have not seen before. On both sides of the hilt surface, there were several carvings that Look like little heads/skulls?
Are these merely whimsical decorations or are they also some form of cultural symbols/meanings like lemantek (leeches) or Aso? The hilt has a good patina and probably quite old. Can you fellow mandau lovers/experts give comments and also which dayak tribe/region this is from? Thanks in advance for your comments. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
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Wow, what a lovely handle.
I think they are little dragons (aso's) surfacing. Very nice. |
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#3 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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Hello Willem,
Quote:
From the available pics, I'd lean towards heads (or aliens ![]() Nik, could you post close-ups of the pommel with better resolution, please? (You may have to throw more light during photography for better results.) Regards, Kai |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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Hello Nik,
Apologies for joining in late at the party... ![]() Congrats, that's a really nice hilt! (No idea what dealers or "art collectors" think when they remove hilts from blades though... ![]() ![]() I especially like that the face works in both directions: Regular orientation with 2 faces and inverted with 1 face - sweet! ![]() As mentioned, please post close-ups with better resolution - thanks a lot! Regards, Kai |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 311
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Thanks Asomotif and Kai;
I also don't think these are aso, and they look like little heads. I will try to take close up pics when I'm back home sometimes next week. |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
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I mean aso heads, I see a nose , 2 eyes and 2 ears.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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Thanks for the additional example, Willem!
Yes, I now see what you mean - could be the top of the head with pretty much only the upper jaw being visible from above, indeed. Will be interesting to get some more shots from different angles once Nik has a chance. Regards, Kai |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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Mandau (and related) hilts are really 3-dimensional works of art that one needs to hold in hand to fully appreciate!
Regards, Kai |
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,731
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 311
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I think Asomotif's opinion is right. The little heads look like the one on his mandau's hilt.
Here are another two marginally clearer pics. I'm hopeless with taking pics. |
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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Thanks, Nik!
Yes, clearly related. Neat piece - let me know if ... ![]() Regards, Kai |
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
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