Knife Item Number: Ib374 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Part a is a long knife with a single-edged metal blade. Has a convex edge, slightly concave back to within 6.5 centimetres of point when it becomes convex and angles to a point. Green-stained wood pommel has two extensions, the longer one of which is at a right angle to the rest. On this, there is a low relief splayed human, face down, hugging the pommel with a floral pattern and incised geometric shapes. Both extensions are fitted with beige hair pieces, possibly horse hair. These pieces are circled with red and black dyed hair rings at the bases. Haft is wrapped with plaited metal inset, with hardened fibre and resin mixture? Sword fits into a larger wood slot of the sheath (part b) formed by two pieces held by a series of bamboo strip lashings along the length. Sheath lashed to a smaller hide sheath formed from a piece folded together along the length. Woven bamboo loop handle and woven bamboo and twined nylon rope handle with attached crescent-shaped wood piece. Part c is a smaller knife that fits in the hide sheath. Slightly curving dark brown wood haft with a silver metal band inset in wood, fibre, and resin? Incised scrolled character and lettering (Bujang nl 9). Double-edged convex metal blade, concave back to 5 centimetres of point where it becomes angled, both concave and convex to a point.
Narrative
Said to come from a crude forge at Punan Lusong, used for hammering out new parangs.
Item History
- Made in Punan Lusong, Sarawak, Malaysia before 1973
- Collected during 1973
- Owned by Chad Deetken before July 21, 1977
- Received from Chad Deetken (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on July 21, 1977
What
- Name
- Knife
- Identification Number
- Ib374 a-c
- Type of Item
- knife
- Material
- resin ?, fibre, hair, bamboo grass, nylon fibre, skin, metal and wood
- Manufacturing Technique
- forged, hammered, cut, woven, lashed, fitted, carved and dried
- Overall
- height 34.0 cm, width 64.0 cm, depth 7.0 cm
- Part A
- height 21.0 cm, width 60.0 cm, depth 3.7 cm
- Part B
- height 6.0 cm, width 60.0 cm, depth 5.5 cm
- Part C
- height 3.3 cm, width 44.3 cm, depth 1.6 cm
Who
- Culture
- Punan ?
- Previous Owner
- Chad Deetken
- Received from
- Chad Deetken (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Punan Lusong, Sarawak, Malaysia
When
- Creation Date
- before 1973
- Collection Date
- during 1973
- Ownership Date
- before July 21, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on July 21, 1977
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0401/0004 a-c