RARE EARLY 20TH C. PHILIPPINE MORO DATU'S KRIS SWORD ~ FINE TWISTCORE DAMASCUS B

Description

Description
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. One of the additional ways in which origins are identified are through the design of the elephant head trunk and cavity of the ganja. The Maranao form has an elongated trunk while the mouth cavity is narrow and the lower jaw runs parallel to the guard. While Sulu and Maguindanaoforms have a concave cavity beneath the lower jaw, the Maranao form does not and instead has a protrusion that juts out from beneath it (Cato 1996). This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a fine example of a classic Maranao style fighting kris with a finely crafted silver horsehoof pommel. The plain tubular handle with carved twine interspersed with silver bands. The pommel is multifaceted silver horsehoof form found in Sulu and Mindanao, though in this casethe overall sword may be Maranao judging by the form ganja on the blade. The 17 luk blade is finely crafted with angular waves near the base and sharply crested waves throughout, both anindication of early 20th century production. The blade also displays lamellar construction found on higher quality Moro blades.Late 19th to Early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 26 3/4" Blade Length : 22 3/4" 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. Krieger, H. W. (1926). The collection of primitive weapons and armor of thePhilippine 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.
No scabbard. Some surface scratches. Good overall condition
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