Sword Handle

Dayak people

Not on view

This handle for a sword (Mandau) from northern Borneo is carved from deer antler. A grip of plaited fiber covers the shaft and the handle has a projecting spur and shorter flat-topped pommel. The spur and adjoining area of the shaft are adorned with intertwining curvilinear motifs and a stylized human face with the eyes and mouth shown as engraved pointed oval forms which appear on the back of the handle. The tip of the pommel and end of the spur have deep cylindrical holes, originally intended for the insertion of decorative tufts of animal hair.

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