Sword Mandau For Kids - Dayak Culture, Island Of Borneo, Indonesia - First Half Of The 20th Century

MANDAU SWORD for kids
Dayak culture, island of Borneo, Indonesia
First half of the 20th century
Steel, plant fibre, antler, skin
Total length: 52.5 cm; Blade length: 38 cm

Single-edged steel blade with oblique tip.
The handle, known as an ulu, is hollowed out and carved with openwork floral motifs, depicting a zoomorphic head.
A section of braided ligatures, trimmed with a skin yoke, completes the fuse.

Today, mandau are associated with head-hunting ceremonies. They are both a weapon and a symbol of prestige. They belonged to hunters and warriors, handed 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 sword. The sacred combination of the mandau is amplified by the combination of the materials of the cloth and the antler.

Ref : 3890

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON