Dayak ‘ Mandau’ sword from Borneo

 A nice and old Dyak / Dayak sword from Borneo probably the Kayan tribe. The staghorn or bone hilt is beautifully carved, a very fine example with a stylised figure to the front with open jaws and sharp teeth. The hilt is is in fine condition with no chips, interestingly there is an area with two tiny inlaid sections of bone fitted into gaps where the carved bone was friable, showing the care that was taken in making this weapon originally. The grip is bound with woven cane/rattan thread, the heavy iron blade is typically chisel-edged ie one side flat the other with a chamfered edge, very thick and strong along the back edge. The scabbard of wood, with a dark wood to the front, and light wood type to the reverse, bound with cane. Circa 1900