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27th November 2006, 11:42 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
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Dayak Iban body armor?
Well, not all weapons are made of steel, brass, wood and ivory.
This Iban jacket is ex Mark Johnson and Robert Caldwell. The seller says: "Iban Dayak Culture, Sarawak Region, Borneo, late 19th Century. This is a very rare Man's war/hunting jacket or "kalambi"; the women weave these special jackets to protect their men from the arrows of the enemy and the evil spirits of the forests. Woven from hand grown, handspun cotton, with Ikat dyed main panels with rare Kilim or slit tapestry weave bottom border. The native dyes used are Kumba root for the red and Indigo blue to create rare anthropomorphic "engkaramba" protective spirit figures. See Tribal Magazine number 29, Winter 2002. Measuring 107 x 61cm. (42 x 24")" But a bit faded. The colors were originally much brighter. Apologies for the front picture looking distorted. Jacket was not laying flat when I took the pictures. The Mandau on the left in my display picture is the longest in my small Dayak collection. OAL 25". The small knife on the back has a distinctly Batak influence. |
27th November 2006, 12:12 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Hi Bill nice display these are just jackets to wear not used for armour
here a picture from mine jacket this one has no sleeve s |
27th November 2006, 12:32 PM | #3 | |
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Location: USA Georgia
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Quote:
I understand that cloth will not stop a blade, but didn't the Iban wear these as a kind of armor to keep them safe from enemies, both physical and spiritual? It is my understanding that they feared spiritual attacks from deceased animals, enemies and inimical spirits. Not all armor is hard metal or horn. Not all weapons have an immediate utilitarian function. Do you agree? Or did the Iban wear jackets like these strictly for modesty or decoratiive social outings? |
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27th November 2006, 12:53 PM | #4 |
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Location: Sweden
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Hi Bill,
Could you share some pictures of the blades etc. on your three Mandau? I am especially interested in the one with wooden hilt. Michael |
27th November 2006, 02:00 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
I think that it is also for social and ritual outings Ben |
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27th November 2006, 05:10 PM | #6 |
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Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
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NICE JACKET!! FROM WHAT LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT IKATS (THE PATTERNS AND STYLE OF WEAVING ,COLORS ECT ALL HAVE SPECIAL MEANINGS AND CAN BE INTENDED TO BRING LUCK, PROTECT FROM EVIL SPIRITS,BRING WEALTH ,DENOTE STATUS IDENTIFY A TRIBE OR GROUP AND MANY OTHER PURPOSES. SOME DYES AND PATTERNS WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO BE OWNED OR WORN BY CERTIAN PEOPLE OR AT CERTIAN CEREMONYS. THESE BELIEFS ARE MOSTLY IN THE PAST NOW AND ONLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE WHO SELL,MAKE OR COLLECT IKATS TODAY. NOT BEING A IKAT COLLECTOR EXCEPT FOR DECOR I KNOW VERY LITTLE BUT THERE ARE MANY SERIOUS COLLECTORS OUT THERE AND IKATS ARE JUST AS COMPLICATED AS WEAPONS PERHAPS MORE SO. I WOULD NOT CLASSIFY THE GARMENTS AS ARMOR BUT THEY MAY SHOW STATUS OR HAVE TAILSMANIC PROPERTIES
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27th November 2006, 06:49 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 951
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Hi Vandoo it is no ikat Iban call it pua when the Ibans came home with the heads their woman stand already with the Pua to put the heads in it
see pic |
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