Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 202:
This is a classic sword of the Moro people of the southern Philippines and of the Sulu Sea area called 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 all Moro 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. Older kris had fewer waves and the waves were deeper and wider. Over time the waves became shallower, tighter, and more numerous and therefore required greater skill to prevent the blade bouncing off or being stuck in an enemys body. One of the additional ways in which origins are identified are through the design of the elephant head trunk and cavity of the ganja. Generally Sulu kris have cavities which are elliptical in shape. The mouth cavity and lower jaw point downwards towards the base of the guard. Certain Mindanao kris have a similar form except that the mouth is round instead of oval and is no tangled. The Maguindanao form is very similar to the Sulu style with an elliptical shape but it is not angled downwards and instead runs perpendicular to the guard. Later versions of this generally exhibit a ridge which has been chiseled into the outer metal that surrounds both sides of the mouth hollow. The Maranao form has an elongated trunk while the mouth cavity is narrow and the lower jaw runs parallel to the guard. While Sulu and Maguindanao forms have a concave cavity beneath the lower jaw, the Maranao form does not and instead has a protrusion that juts out from beneath it (Cato 1996).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a fine example with a classic Maranao style fighting kris with a talismanic silver inlaid blade. The plain tubular handle with a carved pommel is classic for fighting examples and in this case wrapped in blackened twine. The blade is a straight form with a double fuller starting approximately one quarter of the length of the blade from the ganja, and inlaid with talismanic arrows, an indication of the quality of the workmanship. According to Cato (1996) these talismanic inlays are potentially indicative of esoteric ceremonies that trapped magic or spirits in the blade. Late 19th to early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 27 1/4" Blade Length : 23 3/4".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 Cultural History4. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of the Philippine 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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