Question: what type of mandau is this?

[Godfried]

Does anyone know what kind of mandau this is?
Could it be a "Tilang Kamarau"? the back of this sword is the same as the front. The sword comes from Brunei. The motifs on the sword, handle and sheath seem floral to me.

[David]

I think some folks might call this a Tilang Kamarau, but it is a little outside my collecting area to be too sure of myself. But i will say that AFAIK a Tilang Kamarau is not a type of Mandau. A mandau, or Parang Ilang, is a specific form, even if it does share the same basic hilt form as this sword does.

[kai]

Yes, I'm with you on this one, Godfried:

If both sides of the blade are (convex) rather than )concave+convex) and it's stylistically Iban rather than a few ethnic groups limited to Sabah and northern Kalimantan Timur, this label seems suitable...

Is it known from where in Brunei this piece hailed?

Very detailed work on this blade! Backside of the blade as well as scabbard?

Regards,
Kai

[Godfried]

Originally Posted by kai

Yes, I'm with you on this one, Godfried:

If both sides of the blade are (convex) rather than )concave+convex) and it's stylistically Iban rather than a few ethnic groups limited to Sabah and northern Kalimantan Timur, this label seems suitable...

Is it known from where in Brunei this piece hailed?

Very detailed work on this blade! Backside of the blade as well as scabbard?

Regards,
Kai

Thanks Kai.
Unfortunately it is not known where exactly it comes from Brunei.

[Godfried]

Originally Posted by David

I think some folks might call this a Tilang Kamarau, but it is a little outside my collecting area to be too sure of myself. But i will say that AFAIK a Tilang Kamarau is not a type of Mandau. A mandau, or Parang Ilang, is a specific form, even if it does share the same basic hilt form as this sword does.

Hello David
You are absolutely right, but the word Mandau is often used as an umbrella name for various dayak swords. That is why used in my question the word Mandau.

[David]

Originally Posted by Godfried

Hello David
You are absolutely right, but the word Mandau is often used as an umbrella name for various dayak swords. That is why used in my question the word Mandau.

Again, this i not my concentration of collection. I own just one mandau and have had only one other in the past, but it seems rather inaccurate to use mandau as a an umbrella term for various Dayak swords when these other swords all have their own characteristics and specific names. That is why i questioned your use of the word mandau.

[kai]

I agree that specific terms would be preferable, if available/established.

However, the uninitiated will often grab a (relatively) well-known moniker, like other Indo daggers being also called k(e)ris when mentioned among the general populace.

Regards,
Kai

[A. G. Maisey]

Sounds to me like we're playing the Name Game here.

In fact Kai, on the ground, real time, real place, Solo, Jogja , Malang and Bali too, all the places I get around in non-covid times quite a bit, amongst the general populace there is no use of all the names and terms that the collector community seems to know in Jakarta, Surabaya, and most of the world outside these places of origin.

Even amongst the keris literate people of Central Jawa terminology is very much more relaxed than what I see in this Forum.

I remember very clearly what Empu Pauzan Pusposkadgo said when we were discussing the new publication of Ensiklopedi:-

"where did he get all these names & words from? I never heard of a lot of the nonsense that is in this book"

[kai]

Hello Alan,

I was referring to Godfried's background: Pretty much any exotic dagger tends to be referred to as kris in the Netherlands - if you find a kukri being offered at a Dutch flea market, chances are that it will be referred to as kris by any seller who has no special background in foreign cultures or exotic pointy things. Similar adoptions into general language usage can be found in other colonial/migration settings as well as through tourism/globalisation: Curry, Pizza, Sushi - take your pick!

I'd tend to refer to Borneo swords in general or, for example, Dayak or Iban swords if things can be narrowed down a bit more. The Borneo enthusiasts might want to start discussing features/details of individual pieces and come up with groupings of related pieces; the specialists could refer to those styles/substyles as, for example, A1 or C3. However, human nature (i.e. our brain) seems to prefer using "real" names - if any are available, why not use them? Sure, some may happen to be wrong/mistaken: Knowledge changes/evolves, so what?

We just have to realise that human culture and relationships tend to be complex and languages diverse. I agree that pigeon-holing material culture should possibly be not our focus - this is not stamp collecting. In my opinion it's the individual details that make these hand-made pieces so interesting.

Regards,
Kai