UNUSUAL MORO KRIS
 

THIS SOLD A WHILE BACK. IT IS A INTERSTING HIGH QUALITY KRIS AND WORTHY OF DISCUSSION AND A LOOK. ENJOY! , 20 INCHES LONG BLACKENED BLADE, IVORY POMMEL, LOTS OF SILVER

Yeah I saw this a while back. Didn't go for it though since it looks more recent (1960's?) to me.

However, great work on the scabbard and hilt.

Thanks for posting this.

Interesting piece, but I think at best a remounted old blade on more contemporary fittings...yeah, I'd go with the '60s too.

The newer fittings seem like good quality, but don't really mesh with many Moro motifs of the 19th century.

Still, a collectors piece, just a matter of what you are looking for.

Agreed. Well made, but not my cup of tea…

I would also say that the ganga angles are too steep and the curves are of more 1980s style. I might therefore change my dating and say that this may come from Marawi City from the 1980s.........

I totally agree on this, though well made this is not something I would consider purchasing. As to dating I will have to agree with Jose that this in all aspects looks to be a piece of fairly recent manufacture.

Best,
Robert

THE TECHNIQUES AND CONSTRUCTION USED ESPECIALLY ON THE SCABBARD WERE NEW TO ME FOR KRIS. THE MATERIALS USED AND THE WORKMANSHIP APPEAR TO BE WELL DONE AND JOSE THINKS IT IS PHILIPPINE MADE. I GUESS THAT MAKES IT A MODERN HIGH END DRESS OR PARADE KRIS WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT ALL OF THE MORE RECENT KRIS ARE. AT ANY RATE AN INTERESTING AND PRETTY POINTY . :)

I agree with Jose. This was likely made in the '80s or 90s in the Lake Lanao region of Lanao del Sur. One of my Manila sources in the antique business said that the high end pieces of this style were made in that period by two brothers in the Lake Lanao region. These are high end, contemporary kris made primarily for the export market and targeting affluent Muslims in the Middle East and Malaysia. The gold and silver work was generally very well done and they generally sold for high prices.

Ian.

Very interesting Ian...I had never heard of these. Especially interesting that there was a ME and Asian market for them!