mandau handle for comment

[Green]

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.

[asomotif]

Wow, what a lovely handle.

I think they are little dragons (aso's) surfacing. Very nice.

[kai]

Hello Willem,

I think they are little dragons (aso's) surfacing.

Hmm, I don't see aso here - no teeth? Could you please explain or show similar motifs?

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

[kai]

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

[Green]

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.

[asomotif]

I mean aso heads, I see a nose , 2 eyes and 2 ears.

[kai]

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

[kai]

Mandau (and related) hilts are really 3-dimensional works of art that one needs to hold in hand to fully appreciate!

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Mandau (and related) hilts are really 3-dimensional works of art that one needs to hold in hand to fully appreciate!

Indeed!

[Green]

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.

[kai]

Thanks, Nik!

Yes, clearly related.

Neat piece - let me know if ...

Regards,
Kai

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Green

I think Asomotif's opinion is right. The little heads look like the one on his mandau's hilt.

My mandau hilt... I wish. The picture is from the sold section on mytribalart.com