Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 11:
This is a classic sword of the Moro people of the southern Philippines and of the Sulu Sea areacalled a kris. The classic Moro kris is based heavily on the Indonesian keris but is distinctlylarger and made purposefully for fighting. The kris has always been the most famous of allMoro weapons and there are a wide set of variation of blade types, handle forms, and materials.Generally all kris blades are wide at the base, double-edged, and can be waved, half-waved half-straight, or straight in which case they were more practical in combat. Sometimes engravings(often filled in with brass or silver inlay) are found on the blade in okir motifs (vines, foliage, etc.) or Arabic script. Many kris blades are forged with fullers and these are likely heavilyinfluenced by Malay style keris called malela keris. Especially high quality kris for Datus, would have been made of rare materials and had blades of especially fine construction withlamellar steel or in some rare cases twistcore blade forms. It is possible to differentiate betweenMoro kris and attribute to certain regions or ethnic groups such as the Maguindano, Sulu Moros, and Maranaos, based on the design of the blades and the fullering.In some cases, certain types of hilts and decoration can also indicate origin. On this variation ofhilt, with this form of straight handle is likely be a Maranao fighting kris (Cato 1996). A verysimilar form with the same handle type and blade form is illustrated in Macao Museum of Art(2007).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is of fine quality and likely a fighting example. Thehandle is the straight form used for fighting while the 11 luk blade is a finely chiseled form likelyof the early 20th century as the fullering is more angular in form and sharper. The hilt is wrappedin twine, some lost now, and with a round flattened carved pommel.Early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 28 3 /4" Blade Length : 25 3/4".Shipping of this lot is within USA ONLY, except CA and NJ. NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.References:1. Cato, R. (1996) Moro swords. Graham Brash: Singapore2. Barados, D., (1995) Land of the Morning: Treasures of the Philippines, San Francisco Craft &Folk Museum, 1995.3. Casal, G. et al, (1981) The People and Art of the Philippines, UCLA Museum of CulturalHistory4. Combes, F. (1667) Historia de Mindanao y Joló, por el p. Francisco Comb Obra publicadaen Madrid en 1667, y que ahora con la colaboración del p. Pablo Pastells … sacanuevamente á luz W. E. Retana. Madrid: [Viuda de M. Minuesa de los Rios]5. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of the Philippineislands in the United States National museum. Washington: Govt. Print. Off.6. Macao Museum of Art. (2007). History of Steel in East Asia. Macao Museum of Art. Macau7. Wetzler, S. (2020) Steel and Magic. Edged Weapons of the Malay Archipelago. EditionFichter, Frankfurt am MainDetailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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