19th C. Borneo Headhunters Sword SOLD

Rare example of an antique Borneo Young Warrior headhunter's mandau sword and scabbard (Dayak Mandau) dating from the 1870s, brought back to the UK by a British Army colonel stationed in Borneo in the 1870s and kept by his family.

It is complete with ornate bone-handled hilt, highly curved mandau with tribal mark, decorative scabbard (still showing some red colouring), whittling stick (Pisau) and sheath, and "travelling" attachment string with root ornament. Probably Kalimantan.

The mandau is 19 inches long - and the blade is of a more curved design than usual with a rare stamped makers or tribal mark - a more labour intensive and higher quality process (please see photos). This suggests the mandau was made for a young warrior, almost certainly the son of a chief.

Full Dimensions: mandau and hilt. 19" - Scabbard 15" - Whittling Stick 14.5" - Overall including handle 22 " - Weight overall 0.5Kg.

The Mandau is one of the most romanticised, albeit macabre, weapons of Borneo. The way of life of the Dayak aborigines, maintaining their ancient customs, habits and religious beliefs, has always involved the taking of heads.