Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 71:
This is a classic sword of the Moro people of the southern Philippines and of the Sulu Sea areacalled a kampilan but with decorative elements distinct to the T’Boli ethnic group as well. Thebasic form of the sword is considered to have been borrowed form Malay prototypes and similarswords from Timor and Borneo are found in Dutch institutional collections, though with slightlydifferent grip shapes. The kampilan profile isstrikingly similar to that Timorese prototype but also the blade profile has deep similarities to theklewang and mandau (parang ihlang) swords that were used by the Dayak of Borneo. Otherscontend that the Celebes islands are the origin for the Moro kampilan, which shows off the similarity with the Moro version.The kampilan also has a storied history and from the first-hand account of Magellan’s shipmate, Antonio Pigafetta, it is thought that Magellan was killed by the kampilan in the region of thesouthern Philippines. Later accounts during the Spanish conquest of the Philippines indicate thatthe kampilan was a favorite weapon of the Ilanuns (a Moro ethnic group from Mindanao and theWest Coast of Borneo), though this is difficult to explain (Demetrio 1991) as the length of akampilan approaches and exceeds one yard.The swords are generally very distinct, and primarilydistinguished by a carved hilt, sometimes in rarematerials such as bone, with a heavy crossguard and inmost cases a bifurcated carved pommel decorated withfloral decoration called okir. The design of the pommelvaries between ethnic groups, but it is considered todepict a variety of animas most prominently as a buaya(crocodile). In some cases, the hilt also called a sumbain Maguindanoan is often carved and decorated withfloral decoration called okir.This example in the Schmiedt Collection of mid- 20thcentury dating. The hilt carved in a medium coloredbrown wood with some okir decoration and insetwith now worn plugs of hair. The crossguard is aderivation of the classic Moro style butdisproportionate and inset with small brass bells, called tiger bells and often found on T’Boli andBagobo swords. These tiger bells were known on kampilans particularly from the Ilanun and canbe found on two swords in the Dresden Ethnographic museum, seen in the image on the previouspage and published in Foy (1899). The blade is a derivation of classic kampilan blade but alsoshows elements of T’Boli style blade in its thicker ricasso and more sharply angled edge but withthe sharpened Moro protrusion called a sundi.The original scabbard is made for the sword and of wood, decorated with chiseled brass fittingsand the classic T’Boli or Bagobo style brass plugs at the foot of the scabbard.Based on the look of the wood, the brass fittings, and the combination of styles, it was likely produced in the first half of 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 34" Blade Length : 21 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. Pigafetta, A. (2010). PIGAFETTA’S ACCOUNT OF MAGELLAN’S VOYAGE. InH. Stanley (Ed.), First Voyage Round the World by Magellan: Translated from theAccounts of Pigafetta and Other Contemporary Writers (Cambridge LibraryCollection – Hakluyt First Series, pp. 33-163). Cambridge: Cambridge UniversityPress5. Combes, F. (1667) Historia de Mindanao y Joló, por el p. Francisco CombÃĩs … Obrapublicada en Madrid en 1667, y que ahora con la colaboración del p. Pablo Pastells …saca nuevamente á luz W. E. Retana. Madrid: [Viuda de M. Minuesa de los Rios]6. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of thePhilippine islands in the United States National museum. Washington: Govt. Print.Off..7. Demetrio, F. (1991). Encyclopedia of Philippine folk beliefs and customs. Volume 2:Folk medicine to weaponry. Cagayan de Oro City, R.P.: Xavier University8. Macao Museum of Art. (2007). History of Steel in East Asia. Macao Museum of Art.Macau9. Macaraeg, R. (2009). "Pirates of the Philippines: a critical thinking exercise." Journalof Asian Martial Arts, 18 (3)10. Foy (1899) Schwerter von der Celebes-See. Dresden.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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