Mentawai Bird Palitai Dagger

c. 1900
$1,880 USD SOLD
Dimensions
W: 15.75" D: 2.5" H: 10.5"
Materials
Wood
Iron
Horn
Rattan
Collection #
CBH036
Estimated Shipping
$75

This long, thin blade is a traditional knife of the Mentawai people of the Mentawai Islands off of West Sumatra, Indonesia. Known as a palitai (dagger) this double-edged blade was paired with a shield known as kurabit and would have been prominently displayed on the hip to convey social status. This palitai is fitted with a curving handle carved to resemble a bird, and paired with a simple sheath with an elongated, tapered tip. We've elevated this curious dagger on a custom steel mount as captivating sculptural object.

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What They're Saying

Elizabeth Krueger | Elizabeth Krueger Design

“PAGODA RED was extremely supportive in helping to pull accessory options together for the Lake Forest Showhouse. After providing them with details and our vision on how we were looking to finish our space, Laurene helped curate options that made it easy for us to edit and finalize. It's also no surprise that the unique pieces we used in our showhouse space were some of the first to sell.”

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