west papuan metal working..

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Ausjulius,

Sadly I haven't had such a klewang in hand but an other member, Willem has shown such an item long ago but I direct remember when you post your query, see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=guinea

There are written also a few informations. It seems that in the Gelvinckbay area from 1900 onward metal forging wasn't unknown. And since there was a lot of trade with other Malay islands it would be surprising when not also blades get traded.

Regards,
Detlef

hi, interesting looking.. ive never seen one like that with carving paint or hair on the grip in that specific style.. .. as in some of the spice islands you see some with painting and hair.. but never a head like that.. .. the papuan ones.. locally made ive see always have a simple wooden handle, sometimes with a small antennae poling from the grip but no carving..
but these all the examples seem to be form biak island. so i guess there may be other metal working areas as well.
back further than 1900 much further the biak islanders have made steel tools..
i seem to recall int he 1800s the dutch observed them already making parangs.
found something interesting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScP1o8Igg6k
but no images of sheaths... still a mystery