Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 101:
This is a rare form of sword of the Moro people from the southern Philippines and of the SuluSultanate area called a pira. This example is a later form of an early style of sword. Theseswords have a distinctive form that is specific to the Moro and is especially associated with theYakans of Basilan Island, who used it as a fighting sword. The pira form is considered to be aderivative of the Indonesian klewang, and which can be found in a variety of forms throughoutIndonesia.The pira has a distinct upswept blade in the form of a cutlass, somewhat similar to the beladahbelabang, and is found in two forms. The first is an older example where the handle, simple inconstruction but sculptural in form is composed of a hilt with a long upswept pommel. A laterderivative version has a handle similar to the classic kakatua pommel barong and with a blade ofstraighter profile with a flared end.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a very nice example of exceptional length and in theform of the later form of pira. The hilt carved in fine grained wood with chatoyancy with a silverferrule (punto). The blade of fine workmanship displaying element of lamellar construction andquality panday workmanship. The scabbard remains in good condition and is formed of twopieces of wood, bound in rattan.As the second type of pira this example likely dates to the 1st quarter of the 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 30 3/4" Blade Length : 24"References:1. Cato, R. (1996) Moro swords. Graham Brash: Singapore2. Casal, G. et al, (1981) The People and Art of the Philippines, UCLA Museum ofCultural History3. Combes, F. (1667) Historia de Mindanao y Joló, por el p. Francisco CombÃĩs … Obrapublicada en Madrid en 1667, y que ahora con la colaboración del p. Pablo Pastells …saca nuevamente á luz W. E. Retana. Madrid: [Viuda de M. Minuesa de los Rios]4. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of thePhilippine islands in the United States National museum. Washington: Govt. Print.Off..5. Macao Museum of Art. (2007). History of Steel in East Asia. Macao Museum of Art.Macau.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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