Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 96:
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 enemyâ€â„¢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. Many kris blades are forged with fullersand these are likely heavily influenced by Malay style keris called malela keris.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a very fine example of with a large carved jungayyanpommel and a silver and gold band wrapped hilt decorated with chased okir designs. Theimpressive 11 luk blade, also called a lanti in Maguindanao, has a finely carved and chiseledganja, a controlled though angular waves to the blade indicating early 20th century workmanship.The pronounced pommel reflecting the kakatua, jungayyan, remains in superb condition, and theblade is attached to the hilt through a single asang asang clamp. The ganja cavity is formed inthe style associated with the Maranao, though the jungayyan hilt is more closely associated withthe Mindanao or Sulu sultanate Moro. A jungayyan hilt would have been appropriate only for aDatu or other royal to have worn.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 31 3/4" Blade Length : 23" 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. Macau7. Wetzler, S. (2020) Steel and Magic. Edged Weapons of the Malay Archipelago. EditionFichter, Frankfurt am Main.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
Share this lot:
