Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 142:
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 enemys body. The higher number of waves meant the more potent the kris was intalismanic power such as this example. As opposed to Javanese and Balinese keris where nagadesigns carved into the blades are more common, it is uncommon to find naga forms carved intothe blades of Moro blades.One of the additional ways in which origin is identified is through the distinctive design of theelephant head trunk and cavity of the ganja. Generally Sulu kris have cavities which areelliptical in shape. The mouth cavity and lower jaw point downwards towards the base of theguard. Certain Mindanao kris have a similar form except that the mouth is round instead of ovaland is not angled. The Maguindanao form is similar to the Sulu style with an elliptical shape butit is not 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 an interesting example displaying a series ofdecorative elements rarely found on Moro kris and more common on Indonesian keris. Thisincludes the carved form of the naga in the lower part of the blade and which is inlaid in copperor suasa. The single asang asang is also in suasa or copper and matching with a chiseled snakeskin design. The blade also inlaid with silver designs showing a flame pattern and a trisula formnear the tip. The handle is a plain straight form with a wooden pommel and wrapped in twine orjute. The ganja is separately forged indicating that this is likely Not a tourist example of the later20th century but a real fighting sword, while the inlay is of fine quality throughout.Dating to the late 19th – early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 28" Blade Length : 24 3/4" References:1. Cato, R. (1996) Moro swords. Graham Brash: Singapore2. Barados, D., (1995) Land of the Morning: Treasures of the Philippines, San FranciscoCraft & Folk Museum, 1995.3. Casal, G. et al, (1981) The People and Art of the Philippines, UCLA Museum ofCultural History4. 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.Macau6. Wetzler, S. (2020) Steel and Magic. Edged Weapons of the Malay Archipelago.Edition Fichter, Frankfurt am Main.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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