New Panabas

Robert · 22nd March 2012, 01:01 AM

I just received this Maranao Panabas on a trade and would appreciate
your thoughts on it. The overall length is slightly over 32 inches with a blade length of slightly over 16 inches. These measurements were taken in a straight line from the tip of the blade to where it connects to the hilt and then from there to the end of the hilt. Heavy brass bands hold the blade tight with decorative brass panels covering most of the wooden hilt/handle. If you look closely, all of the brass panels are slightly different from each other not only in size and width but with slight differences and imperfections in each piece that show that each one was made separately and not just cut from one longer strip of decorated brass banding. Unfortunately one piece of decoration on the very end of the hilt is missing. The wood of the hilt has shrunk from age leaving some of the decorative brass slightly loose. The pictures for some reason do not show the patina on the brass anywhere near as dark as it actually is.

All information and thoughts you have on this piece will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

P.S.
Thank you Jose for your help in identifying where this was from.

CharlesS · 22nd March 2012, 01:43 AM

Congrats! ...a very attractive piece. I am most curious to see imput on its age, though it clearly is not new or recent.

Again, a very attractive panabas.

Robert · 22nd March 2012, 02:18 AM

Hello Charles and thank you for your kind words. I too am most interested in hearing what the experts have to say about the possible age of this most unusual piece as well as any other information that they may offer. I wish that I could get at least one picture that would show the true patina of the brass work.

Robert

Sajen · 22nd March 2012, 06:25 PM

Hello Robert,

now I am a little bit green with envy! Very nice panabas, congratulation!

A panabas is very up on my wish list. Do you plan to clean the blade and give it an etch?

Regards,

Detlef

Battara · 23rd March 2012, 12:28 AM

Nice piece. Hard to determine age on this. I would guess at 1910s to 1920s. It is Maranao in origin (possibly Maguindanao but leaning more Maranao) according to the okir I see in the bands.

Robert · 23rd March 2012, 07:43 AM

Detlef, thank you for your interest and compliments on this. I am sure that you will be able to find one for your own collection soon. As for etching the blade goes, I really haven't decided if I will or just leave it as is.
Jose, thank you very much for your help in dating this item. Do you think that by the way this is decorated that it would have been more of a status piece or possibly a ceremonial item? Again my thanks to everyone for their comments so far.

Robert

22nd March 2012, 01:01 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	New Panabas I just received this Maranao Panabas on a trade and would appreciate your thoughts on it. The overall length is slightly over 32 inches with a blade length of slightly over 16 inches. These measurements were taken in a straight line from the tip of the blade to where it connects to the hilt and then from there to the end of the hilt. Heavy brass bands hold the blade tight with decorative brass panels covering most of the wooden hilt/handle. If you look closely, all of the brass panels are slightly different from each other not only in size and width but with slight differences and imperfections in each piece that show that each one was made separately and not just cut from one longer strip of decorated brass banding. Unfortunately one piece of decoration on the very end of the hilt is missing. The wood of the hilt has shrunk from age leaving some of the decorative brass slightly loose. The pictures for some reason do not show the patina on the brass anywhere near as dark as it actually is. All information and thoughts you have on this piece will be greatly appreciated. Robert P.S. Thank you Jose for your help in identifying where this was from. Attached Images Last edited by Robert Coleman; 22nd March 2012 at 01:13 AM.

22nd March 2012, 02:18 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Charles and thank you for your kind words. I too am most interested in hearing what the experts have to say about the possible age of this most unusual piece as well as any other information that they may offer. I wish that I could get at least one picture that would show the true patina of the brass work. Robert Last edited by Robert Coleman; 22nd March 2012 at 05:58 AM.

23rd March 2012, 07:43 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Detlef, thank you for your interest and compliments on this. I am sure that you will be able to find one for your own collection soon. As for etching the blade goes, I really haven't decided if I will or just leave it as is. Jose, thank you very much for your help in dating this item. Do you think that by the way this is decorated that it would have been more of a status piece or possibly a ceremonial item? Again my thanks to everyone for their comments so far. Robert Last edited by Robert Coleman; 23rd March 2012 at 08:19 AM.

22nd March 2012, 01:43 AM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Congrats! ...a very attractive piece. I am most curious to see imput on its age, though it clearly is not new or recent. Again, a very attractive panabas.

22nd March 2012, 06:25 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,794	Hello Robert, now I am a little bit green with envy! Very nice panabas, congratulation! A panabas is very up on my wish list. Do you plan to clean the blade and give it an etch? Regards, Detlef

23rd March 2012, 12:28 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,229	Nice piece. Hard to determine age on this. I would guess at 1910s to 1920s. It is Maranao in origin (possibly Maguindanao but leaning more Maranao) according to the okir I see in the bands.