Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 210:
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. 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 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).In some Moro swords, one finds the use of twist core designs in the iron. Twist core iron is not solely relegated to use by Moro blade smiths, also called pandays, but can be found in other cultures as disparate as the Vikings, China, and elsewhere. However, Moro swords with twist core designs are desirable based on the quality of the pandays workmanship. The twist core design in the iron is inherent to the structure of the blade and serves not only the purpose of creating a beautiful design but also to strengthen the blade. The twisted rod technique by which this pattern has been achieved is also called a pattern-welding. All of the patterns seen on Moro kris, and other swords with twist core designs are built up from rods composed of several, frequently up to seven, alternating layers of varyingly dissimilar irons. Because the trace elements in the iron vary from one to one, when they are twisted, welded together, forged into shape, and then cleaned and etched, the designs in the iron will stand out in lighter and darker tones. Rods with matching or complementary twist patterns were usually installed side-by-side into the sword blade and on grinding away the outer surfaces of such rods the blade would display a series of patterns (Jones).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is one of the most superb examples of twist core on a Moro kris displaying an exceptionally fine control of the iron by the panday. The blade is a deceptively simple straight fighting blade but with a core of twisted steel and a series of fullers on the lower portion serving to frame the twist core pattern. The straight handle mounted inchiseled silver bands and silver braids is capped with a carved pommel. The overall form of the ganja and handle indicate a Maranao origin based on similar examples. An exceptional Maranao kris of Datu level workmanship. Dates to 19th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 26 1/2" Blade Length : 23 1/4".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 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. Macau. 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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