Product Description

Kalimantan Sword 3: Mandau

Material: Iron blade, deer horn hilt, wire thread, wood scabbard, rattan
Style: Dayak, Kalimantan, mid 20th century
Size: Length 66.5 cm, width 7 cm
Order Number: TATW9

Background: This is a sword used when head hunting and as a machete in daily life. It is called a Mandau and is worn almost horizontally by means of a rattan girdle to which all kinds of amulets are attached, The blade’s edge faces upwards.

The top the blade is shaped somewhat convexly on one side and concavely on the other. Due to this the best striking angle is at 45 degrees from top right to left.

The wooden hilt is carved in the shape of the aso or ‘dog-dragon.’ Although the name literally means ‘dog,’ the aso is a supernatural creature that incorporates aspects of the dog, the dragon, and the climbing tendrils of forest vines.

In addition to warding off dangerous spirits, the aso serves as a status symbol. Only members of the nobility are entitled to show aso.

Commoners are restricted to geometric motifs. The hilt’s central part is wound around with metal thread. The hilt’s lower part fits exactly.

The scabbard is made of two pieces of wood held together by plaited rattan. It is carved.

A similar example is shown in Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, Albert G. Van Zonneveld, C. Zwartenkot Art Books, 2001 at page 88.