Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 92:
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. 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.), Arabic script, or other esotericmotifs such as this example in the Schmiedt Collection.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a rare example of a ball pommel Datus level kris.The impressive 21 luk blade appears to be in the Maguindanao or Sulu style with complex fullering at the base and inlaid silver running the length of the blade culminating in a trisula formdesign. The composition of the blade is lamellar though it appears that it may display a twistedcore pattern. The hilt is a finely made rare ball pommel form composed of wood inlaid withvarious materials. The grip with silver bands and wires. These forms are considered to bepotentially related to the horsehoof pattern or derivations thereof and therefore could beattributed to the Sulu region or Maguidanao.Dating to the late 19th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 30 1/2" Blade Length : 26 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. 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]5. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of thePhilippine islands 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.Macau7. 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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