- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Sword [.1] with decorated, single edged blade. and carved antler or ivory hilt with rattan bound grip. For sheath see 1910.17.2 .2 [SM 06/09/2007]
- Long description
- Sword [.1] with decorated, single edged blade. and carved antler or ivory hilt with rattan bound grip. For sheath see 1910.17.2 .2 The sword is decorated on one surface with an incised scrolling pattern and is inlaid with brass dots. The spine is decorated with fretwork towards the tip. The grip is bound with plaited/basketry rattan and plant fibre. The hilt is decoratively carved above this and projects to one side. It has several small hair tassels and one long hair tassel. The hair is red, white and black. [SM 06/09/2007]
- Cultural groups
- Kayan
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1910
- Date collected
- By 1910
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1910
- Materials and processes
- Material Rattan Plant, Material Hair, Material Brass Metal, Material Steel Metal, Material Iron Metal, Material Animal Antler, Material Animal Ivory Tooth, Process Forged (Metal), Process Carved, Process Incised, Process Inlaid, Process Bound, Process Dyed
- Dimensions
- Length: max 726 mm, Width: max 83 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1910.17.2.1
- Research and responses
Ref. R. Shelford 1901 'A provisional classification of the swords of the Sarawak tribes' JAI. [LM 14/2/2007]
Parang is a term used among the Malay and Iban to indicate any sword, although these weapons were used (like the kukri and Naga dao) for agricultural and arboricultural purposes as well. Parang ilang is an Iban term for these swords, which have other names among other peoples. The parang is worn blade-upwards on the left hip, in the Japanese fashion, and offers considerable artistic interest. In use, the distinctive blade is quite unique. It has a curvature across the width of the blade, as well as the length, which is found by the Borneans to permit a deeper cut. These swords are the counterpart to the beautiful Kayan and Kenyah shields, and the baju empurau war-jackets. One begins to get a true sense of the rich self-presentation of the Kayan and Kenyah warrior when one puts these items together into the appropriate complex of objects. The back of the blade is often fretted and hooked, or decorated with incised motifs, somewhat after the fashion of the keris. These designs allude to various serpent or dragon forms, again, much like the keris. Research Conducted for DCF Cutting Edge 2006/2007 [AM].
1910.17.2.1
Sword [.1] with decorated, single edged blade. and carved antler or ivory hilt with rattan bound grip. For sheath see 1910.17.2 .2 [SM 06/09/2007]
1910.17.2.1
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