Inlay from a Mandau Sheath

Kayan Dayak, Borneo
Early 20th c.
Deer antler

This finely carved inlay once adorned the wooden sheath of a mandau, the ceremonial sword of the  Dayak of Borneo. Executed in deer antler, the piece demonstrates the refinement and symbolic density characteristic of Kayan blade handles, where sculptural ornament served both aesthetic and spiritual functions.

At the upper register, a small figural form leans outward, creating a pronounced forked silhouette. This bifurcated configuration—common in Kayan visual language—evokes themes of balance, transition, and the mediation between opposing forces. The projecting figure animates the composition, lending a sense of movement and tension as it extends beyond the vertical axis of the form.

Below, a series of rounded openings punctuate the surface, each framed by flowing spiral motifs carved in low relief.  The surface retains a warm, lustrous patina, softened through age and handling, with clear evidence of long use.