Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 5:
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 half-straight, 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, andmore numerous and therefore required greater skill to prevent the blade bouncing off or beingstuck in an enemy’s body. The higher number of waves meant the more potent the kris was intalismanic power such as this example. Sometimes engravings (often filled in with brass or silverinlay) are found on the blade in okir motifs (vines, foliage, etc.) or Arabic script. Many krisblades are forged with fullers and these are likely heavily influenced by Malay style keris calledmalela keris. Especially high quality kris for Datu’s, would have been made of rare materialsand had blades of especially fine construction with lamellar steel or in some rare cases twistcoreblade forms. It is possible to differentiate between Moro kris and attribute to certain regions orethnic groups such as the Maguindano, Sulu Moros, and Maranaos, based on the design of theblades and the fullering. In some cases, certain types of hilts and decoration can also indicateorigin. One of the classic ways of distinguishing kris by region is by examining the cavity form, with slight variations in shape indicating different regional attributions.This example in the Schmiedt Collection of fine quality and likely originates from Maguindanaobased on the carving of the elephant trunk cavity (Cato 1996: pl. 41). The hilt is a classic formwith a stylized carved kakatua pommel. The handle wrapped in darkened cloth and then boundwith copper wire, which also is wound around the protrusion of the kakatua pommel. The asangasang clamps made of silver and original to the sword. The 17 luk blade is a fine late 19th centuryform, though the handle has design elements of the earlier forms judging by the refined carvedwood pommel. The blade displays elements of lamellar patterning.Dating to the late 19th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 26" Blade Length : 22"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 CulturalHistory4. Combes, F. (1667) Historia de Mindanao y Joló, por el p. Francisco CombÃĩs … Obra publicadaen Madrid en 1667, y que ahora con la colaboración del p. Pablo Pastells … sacanuevamente á luz W. E. Retana. Madrid: [Viuda de M. Minuesa de los Rios]5. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of the Philippineislands in the United States National museum. Washington: Govt. Print. Off..6. Macao Museum of Art. (2007). History of Steel in East Asia. Macao Museum of Art. MacauDetailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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