MANDAU SWORD

Dayak culture, island of Borneo, Indonesia

First half of the 20th century

Steel, plant fiber, antler, skin

Long. total: 52.5; Long. blade: 38 cm

Single-edged steel blade, ending obliquely on the tip.

Handle, called ulu , whose antler pommel is hollowed out and carved with openwork floral motifs, representing a zoomorphic head.

Section of braided ligatures, garnished with a insert of skin completes the flare.

Mandau are today associated with headhunting ceremonies. They relate to both weaponry and prestige. They belonged to hunters and warriors, passed down from generation to generation. It is said that these weapons were endowed with supernatural powers. The spirit was planted in a hair, placed on the hilt of the saber. The sacred combination of the mandau is amplified by the combination of fabric and antler materials.

Ref. : 3890

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON