Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 208:
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 halfstraight, or straight in which case they were more practical in combat. 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.Many kris blades are forged with fullers and these are likely heavily influenced by Malay style keris called malela keris.One of the additional ways in which origins are identified are through the design of the elephant head trunk and cavity of the ganja. 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 (Cato 1996).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is an interesting example of a high quality Maguindanao kris likely mounted in the early 20th century with silver and suasa grip bands. The suasa bands are chased with okir designs of classic Mindanao style. The pommel is finely aged and carved with a deep patina. The 17 luk blade has a flattened cross section without fullers and likely Maguindanao in origin judging by the elephant trunk cavity. Overall a high quality kris of Datu level workmanship.Dates from late 19th to early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 27 1/2" Blade Length : 22 1/4"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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