Board ID?

David · 8th April 2010, 09:39 PM

Okay, this is only keris related due to my own adaptaion, but hopefully someone here can help me.
I have had this carved board for a few years and i turned it into a keris board a while back for this Madura patrem. The board is about 22 inches long and varies around 7+ inches wide. It has a really nice patina and has some obvious age to it. As you can probably see it has holes all around the perimeter so it was probably attached to something at one time. I have thought it could have at one time been the backing for some kind of carrying basket, maybe even for carrying a child, but i'm just guessing.
So may questions are firstly:
1. Where is it from? The designs remind me a bit of Dayak work, but i am not sure.
2. What was it used for before i turned it into a keris board?

Gustav · 8th April 2010, 10:08 PM

Similar demonic faces are depicted on funeral objects in Central-Borneo, Mahakam, called "lightning-faces".

Strange is the long tongue.

Gustav · 8th April 2010, 11:49 PM

David, you probably are wright (but the tongue stays strange

)

David · 9th April 2010, 05:21 AM

Thanks Gustav. That is pretty much how i suspected this board was used.
Anyone else have any ideas what tribe this might be from?

Marcokeris · 9th April 2010, 02:14 PM

There are many Dayak tribes in Borneo (Kayan, Keniah, Iban, Bahau, Modang......) Sometimes also local (or made by Kalimantan carvers) keris handles are influenced by these tribe patterns.

David · 9th April 2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

There are many Dayak tribes in Borneo (Kayan, Keniah, Iban, Bahau, Modang......) Sometimes also local (or made by Kalimantan carvers) keris handles are influenced by these tribe patterns.

Yes, i realize there are many different tribes. That's why i was hoping that someone here might recognize this style of carving and be able to nail it down to a specific one.

8th April 2010, 09:39 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Board ID? Okay, this is only keris related due to my own adaptaion, but hopefully someone here can help me. I have had this carved board for a few years and i turned it into a keris board a while back for this Madura patrem. The board is about 22 inches long and varies around 7+ inches wide. It has a really nice patina and has some obvious age to it. As you can probably see it has holes all around the perimeter so it was probably attached to something at one time. I have thought it could have at one time been the backing for some kind of carrying basket, maybe even for carrying a child, but i'm just guessing. So may questions are firstly: 1. Where is it from? The designs remind me a bit of Dayak work, but i am not sure. 2. What was it used for before i turned it into a keris board? Attached Images

8th April 2010, 11:49 PM	#3
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	David, you probably are wright (but the tongue stays strange ) Attached Images

8th April 2010, 10:08 PM	#2
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	Similar demonic faces are depicted on funeral objects in Central-Borneo, Mahakam, called "lightning-faces". Strange is the long tongue.

9th April 2010, 05:21 AM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Thanks Gustav. That is pretty much how i suspected this board was used. Anyone else have any ideas what tribe this might be from?

9th April 2010, 02:14 PM	#5
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	There are many Dayak tribes in Borneo (Kayan, Keniah, Iban, Bahau, Modang......) Sometimes also local (or made by Kalimantan carvers) keris handles are influenced by these tribe patterns.