Moro Decoration

Interested Party · 15th December 2023, 07:44 PM

Here are a couple of barung handles I have seen recently. Both auctions are over. The question I have is these crescent moon shapes, are they a recent motif? My gut tells me they are, but I have been noticing them more and more. I keep seeing them. Oddly one of these is embossed the other is intaglio. So, the same punch but using deferent sides of the brass.

Interested Party · 16th December 2023, 08:00 PM

With a minimum amount of due diligence, I found this from p. 38 of Cato's Moro Swords. Interesting in that in this version the crescents go in, and the dots were punched from the other side and protrude out. Now we all know that Cato was not infallible in his opinions but let us assume that this example has age and represents a pattern with at least a little bit of history. All 3 have very similar ferules and sleeves. One has a junggayan pommel, and another seems to indicate that it at one time had type of pommel. BUT the original post items to me do not seem to indicate silver though the incomplete example's sleeve does have a rosy undertone which have made me wonder what alloy it is. I can't tell if the brass I smell is from the bands towards the pommel or from the whole ensemble. Are these dresses 1890, 1920, post WWII, or after 1970? What culture or ethnic group made this pattern of decoration. Both of the blades from the original post seem to have decent lamination. I will continue to look for more examples and information.

Thanks
IP

Ian · 16th December 2023, 09:18 PM

Hi IP,
Battara is our resident expert on silver decorations and he does a fair share of it himself. I hope he can chime in on this topic and elaborate on how the designs were made.

kino · 16th December 2023, 10:26 PM

I believe it’s kianoko - fingernail impression.
You’ll see these repeated on Baka-baka’s and asang-asang’s
I’ve seen it on early 19th century Kris’

JeffS · 16th December 2023, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kino

I believe it’s kianoko - fingernail impression.
You’ll see these repeated on Baka-baka’s and asang-asang’s
I’ve seen it on early 19th century Kris’

Is there a difference between asang-asang and baka-baka?

kai · 16th December 2023, 11:25 PM

Only language/culture, Jeff.

Interested Party · 17th December 2023, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kino

I believe it’s kianoko - fingernail impression.
You’ll see these repeated on Baka-baka’s and asang-asang’s
I’ve seen it on early 19th century Kris’

Thank you. So this is a style dating at least to the early 1800s. Is this date for the horizontal bands as in the diagram or the diagonal elements as in the three examples shown earlier, or both? Do you think it is called fingernail impression because of its shape or its method of manufacture? On baka-baka it would surely need to be a punch. Once I got looking and thinking I now see this basic shape as a ubiquitous element in Moro design being utilized in many different patterns. I appreciate you posting the diagram with the vocabulary.

Battara · 19th December 2023, 11:58 PM

Hi kids!

Yes this "fingernail" ukkil motif is very common in Sulu silver, wood, and stone work. It also exists in Maranao and Maguindanao work, but Sulu regional work uses this the most and even all by itself.

You'll see it more often on barung, but sometimes on kris/kalis hilts as well.

Rafngard · 20th December 2023, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kino

I believe it’s kianoko - fingernail impression.
You’ll see these repeated on Baka-baka’s and asang-asang’s
I’ve seen it on early 19th century Kris’

Hello Kino,

What book is this from?

Thanks,
Leif

kino · 21st December 2023, 01:57 AM

Quote:

So this is a style dating at least to the early 1800s. Is this date for the horizontal bands as in the diagram or the diagonal elements as in the three examples shown earlier, or both? Do you think it is called fingernail impression because of its shape or its method of manufacture?

Kianoko also appears on architectual elements of a Maranao Torogan (a Datu’s large house).
I don’t know if the horizontal predates the diagonal.
I leaning towards the shape of it being called kianoko, not the method.

Quote:

What book is this from?

Hey Leif, “The People and Art of the Philippines”

Interested Party · 17th December 2023, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi IP,
Battara is our resident expert on silver decorations and he does a fair share of it himself. I hope he can chime in on this topic and elaborate on how the designs were made.

The work I've seen him post is beautiful.

15th December 2023, 07:44 PM	#1
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 471	Moro Decoration Here are a couple of barung handles I have seen recently. Both auctions are over. The question I have is these crescent moon shapes, are they a recent motif? My gut tells me they are, but I have been noticing them more and more. I keep seeing them. Oddly one of these is embossed the other is intaglio. So, the same punch but using deferent sides of the brass. Attached Images

16th December 2023, 08:00 PM	#2
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 471	With a minimum amount of due diligence, I found this from p. 38 of Cato's Moro Swords. Interesting in that in this version the crescents go in, and the dots were punched from the other side and protrude out. Now we all know that Cato was not infallible in his opinions but let us assume that this example has age and represents a pattern with at least a little bit of history. All 3 have very similar ferules and sleeves. One has a junggayan pommel, and another seems to indicate that it at one time had type of pommel. BUT the original post items to me do not seem to indicate silver though the incomplete example's sleeve does have a rosy undertone which have made me wonder what alloy it is. I can't tell if the brass I smell is from the bands towards the pommel or from the whole ensemble. Are these dresses 1890, 1920, post WWII, or after 1970? What culture or ethnic group made this pattern of decoration. Both of the blades from the original post seem to have decent lamination. I will continue to look for more examples and information. Thanks IP Attached Images Last edited by Interested Party; 17th December 2023 at 02:11 PM. Reason: clarification of language

16th December 2023, 10:26 PM	#4
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,002	I believe it’s kianoko - fingernail impression. You’ll see these repeated on Baka-baka’s and asang-asang’s I’ve seen it on early 19th century Kris’ Attached Images

16th December 2023, 09:18 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	Hi IP, Battara is our resident expert on silver decorations and he does a fair share of it himself. I hope he can chime in on this topic and elaborate on how the designs were made.

16th December 2023, 11:25 PM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Only language/culture, Jeff.

19th December 2023, 11:58 PM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Hi kids! Yes this "fingernail" ukkil motif is very common in Sulu silver, wood, and stone work. It also exists in Maranao and Maguindanao work, but Sulu regional work uses this the most and even all by itself. You'll see it more often on barung, but sometimes on kris/kalis hilts as well.