Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 189:
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. The higher number of waves meant the more potent the kris was intalismanic power such as this example. Sometimes engravings (often filled in with brass or silverinlay) are found on the blade in okir motifs (vines, foliage, etc.), Arabic script, or other esotericmotifs such as this example in the Schmiedt Collection.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 very fine early example with an oversizedjungayyan carved pommel in superb condition. The handle itself of plaited twine or jute, withchased silver bands with okir designs. The blade and filigree bands near the pommel and ganja.The 5 luk half waved- half straight blade has a fine patina and is inlaid with silver. The ganjaand cavity form indicates this is a crossover Maguindanao and Sulu origin as the blade hasdistinct elements of Malay sundangs with malela style fullering. However the form of the ganjais not directly similar to the 18th century Sulu archaic form and therefore is likely aninterpretation from another region.Dating to the 19th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 25 3/4" Blade Length :20 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 M.alay Archipelago.Edition Fichter, 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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