Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 235:
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 halfstraight, 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 intalismanic power such as this example.One of the additional ways in which origins are identified is 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. CertainMindanao kris have a similar form except that the mouth is round instead of oval and is not angled. The Maguindanao form is very similar to the Sulu style with an elliptical shape but it isnot angled downwards and instead runs perpendicular to the guard (Cato 1996).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a good example of a mid-20th century kris of the form often acquired by American servicemen in the Philippines. These were often made with blades approximating the earlier styles but otherwise did not have the refinement found on the earlier blades. Another feature is that the ganjas are forged integrally to the blades as opposed to most pre-WWII examples which feature separately forged ganjas. The 13 luk blade displays lamellation of a no-nontrolled form and has a distinctive sharp luk indicating 20th century production. The handle is a Sulu style horsehoof pattern inlaid with shell and wrapped in twine.The use of shell inlay also dates this to the mid-20th century as this form decoration began to be used following WWII.Dates to the middle of 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 28 1/2" Blade Length : 24 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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