Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 204:
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 distinctly larger 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. The higher number of waves meant the more potent the kris was in talismanic power such as this example. Sometimes engravings (often filled in with brass or silver inlay) are found on the blade in okir motifs (vines, foliage, etc.), Arabic script, or other esoteric motifs such as this example in the Schmiedt Collection. Kris from Borneo are also known as as Malay kris they are called sundang. Their stylistic features are similar in most respects to Moro kris from Sulu and Mindanao, but display different design elements more reflective of influences from the Dayak and Chinese communities. This example in the Schmiedt Collection is an important example featuring a number of idiosyncratic design elements with exceptional quality workmanship. The overall form is difficult to attribute exactly but the quality of the chiseling and the form of the handle with an offset pommel potentially indicates Sulu workmanship or North Bornean workmanship influenced by the diaspora Chinese communities. The carving of the pommel is not present on other known extant examples and appears to be a combination stylistically of the classic Sulu horse hoof and a jawa demam or garuda hilt due to the distinct angle of the pommel. The 3 luk blade is an exceptional twist core blade with a finely controlled pattern, sharp fullering, and delicate angular waves indicating an earlier dating. Dating to the early- mid 19th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 23 3/4" Blade Length : 19 3/4".Shipping is available ONLY within USA, 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 FranciscoCraft & Folk Museum, 1995.3. Casal, G. et al, (1981) The People and Art of the Philippines, UCLA Museum ofCultural History4. Combes, F. (1667) Historia de Mindanao y Jol, por el p. Francisco Comb … Obrapublicada en Madrid en 1667, y que ahora con la colaboracin del p. Pablo Pastells …saca nuevamente 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 thePhilippine islands 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. 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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