Info Needed On Tombak

[kai]

Hello Robert,

Thank you very much for your thoughts on this spear head and especially for the tips on the correct way of cleaning and preserving this piece.

You're welcome!

Actually the culturally correct way would be as Alan suggests: Thoroughly cleaning the piece (including complete removal of the stain) and then restaining with warangan afterwards.

I have added two more photos, one showing the twisted end of the tang and the other showing the methuk (the round thingy at the base). These were the best that I could produce from the auction photos using the photo editor I have.

I can't make out any pamor on the methuk; this usually allows to very if it is separate. We'll see once it arrives...

I have always wanted one of these for my collection even though they are not Philippine in origin, (as the other 99% of it is) but every one that I found that I liked was always more than my limited funding would allow. Even though I have read about everything I could find on them here on the forum I still had no idea of how to tell an original from a tourist item, that is unless it was so poorly made that it was quite obvious it was never meant to be used for much more than a paperweight. I had seen this one listed and on a whim decided to use the "Best Offer" option and made a bid of 33% of the asking price wholly expecting the seller to either make a counter offer of a higher price or just ignore my offer completely. To my total amazement I instead received an invoice for payment. Apparently this piece was meant to be mine all along.

Congrats! Spears are difficult to sell for that very reason (only a few true aficionados) and the fully mounted ones in addition due to prohibitive shipping costs.

I will contact Alan as you have suggested.

You crossed posts with him already...

Regards,
Kai