Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 233:
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. Sometimes engravings (often filled in with brass orsilver inlay) are found on the blade in okir motifs (vines, foliage, etc.), Arabic script, or otheresoteric motifs such as this example in the Schmiedt Collection. Many kris blades are forgedwith 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 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 (Cato1996).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a good example of a 20th century Moro datus kris, likely from Sulu. The handle is finely mounted with an oversized danganan silver kakatuapommel and mounted with suasa and silver bands. The 13 luk blade is a fine heavy fighting examples with a carved naga approximating the fullers, and then inlaid with silver okir designs.The sharper angled luk indicate a 20th century form while the ganja has Sulu elements with the rounded cavity.Dates to the early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 27 3/4" Blade Length : 23"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 info@sofedesignauctions.com
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