Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 236:
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. Older kris had fewerwaves 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.Many kris blades are forged with fullers and these arelikely heavily influenced by Malay style keris calledmalela keris.One of the additional ways in which origins are identifiedare through the design of the elephant head trunk andcavity of the ganja. Generally Sulu kris have cavitieswhich are elliptical in shape. The mouth cavity and lowerjaw point downwards towards the base of the guard.Certain Mindanao kris have a similar form except that themouth is round instead of oval and is not angled. TheMaguindanao form is very similar to the Sulu style withan elliptical shape but it is not angled downwards andinstead runs perpendicular to the guard. Later versions ofthis generally exhibit a ridge which has been chiseled intothe outer metal that surrounds both sides of the mouthhollow. (Cato 1996).This example in the Schmiedt Collection is one of themost exceptional forms of early Datu or Sultan level kris1 Kris of this quality do not show up in the auction record and so valuation is an approximation but considering thequality and provenance this is a fair approximation.in the collection. This particular example with superb provenance having been published in Robert Catos Moro Swords (1996) and pictured on the frontispiece. Described in Cato as Superlative jungayyans: (19th century barung and kris). Beautifullysculpted with chased, solid gold fittings. Such pieces are extremely rare probably due to their reserved status, the economic conditions of the era, and the Prophets injunction against the use of gold for personal ornamentation for males. Each weapon undoubtedly belonged to a prominent datu or a member of Sulu royalty. The quality of this kris is without question at the highest level of workmanship with a superb oversized jungayyan hilt displaying no damage. Theoversized and massive 23 luk blade of Sulu or Maguindanao origin likewise is very finely crafted and display a complex luk form with simple lamellation faintly evident. In Krieger (1926) such similar jungayyan pommel kris are attributed to Jolo island in the Sulu sea. Dates to the 19th century. Provenance: Formerly in the Robert Cato collection. Owners note: Moro Jungayyan kris from Sulu. Cockatoo pommel with the handle covered with alternating bands of woven silver wire and gold bands. Stirrups are of silver, and the blade carries 23 waves. This kris was formerly owned by Robert Cato, and is pictured in the front is piece of the book Moro Swords. Very few of this quality Kris survive today. Dates from the 19th century. A Museum quality example.Length (inside scabbard if present) : Blade Length : .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.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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