A Dayak mandau sword

A Dayak mandau sword

Borneo, Indonesia

the steel blade with scrolling towards the top edge near the tip, with a silver mount stamped H.D. and fibre binding with a carved bone zoomorphic head handle and with hair, in a carved wood and silver mounted scabbard and an applied cloth covered sheath with further hair and with a double figure amulet,

69cm long. (3)

Provenance

Presented to Robert E Speddy on his retirement as clerk to the State Cabinet of Sabah, Malaysia in 1966 by Chief Arusap, of the Murut Tribe.