Mentawai Bird Palitai Dagger

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.