Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 10:00 PM UTC
Lot 126:
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 halfstraight, or straight in which case they were more practical in combat. Older kris had fewerwaves and the waves were deeper and wider. Over time the waves became shallower, tighter, andmore numerous and therefore required greater skill to prevent the blade bouncing off or beingstuck in an enemyâ€â„¢s body.One of the additional ways in which origins are identified are through the design of the elephanthead trunk and cavity of the ganja. Generally Sulu kris have cavities which are elliptical inshape. The mouth cavity and lower jaw point downwards towards the base of the guard. CertainMindanao kris have a similar form except that the mouth is round instead of oval and is notangled. The Maguindanao form is very similar to the Sulu style with an elliptical shape but it isnot angled downwards and instead runs perpendicular to the guard. Later versions of thisgenerally exhibit a ridge which has been chiseled into the outer metal that surrounds both sidesof the mouth hollow. The Maranao form has an elongated trunk while the mouth cavity isnarrow and the lower jaw runs parallel to the guard. While Sulu and Maguindanao forms have aconcave cavity beneath the lower jaw, the Maranao form does not and instead has a protrusionthat juts out from beneath it (Cato 1996).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a fine fighting example displaying elements of earlyarchaic Sulu kris in the form of the pommel and the simplicity of the blade, but which alreadyhas later elements including the larger form and size and the form of carving of the ganja. Basedon the carving of the elephantâ€â„¢s trunk cavity the kris may be of Maranao origin. The pommel ofthis example is finely carved in the stylized kakatua form with a rich chatoyancy, while the gripis wrapped in twine or jute. The nine 9 luk blade is a half waved and half straight form whichhas been heavily used and polished over its lifetime but which displays a very pleasing geometrywith a medial ridge that follows the length of the sword in a crisp manner indicating a highlycontrolled smithing process.Dating to the 19th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 28 1/2" Blade Length : 23"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. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of the Philippineislands 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. Macau6. Wetzler, S. (2020) Steel and Magic. Edged Weapons of the Malay Archipelago. EditionFichter, Frankfurt am Main.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at info@sofedesignauctions.com
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