Beautiful sword from Philippines

carlos · 11th October 2010, 12:41 PM

Several months ago I saw this sword in Ebay, and I saved the pictures to my hard disk. Now I have remember this and I´m going to show pictures to the forum, I hope you enjoy it!!
This pommel is marvellous!!!

Best regards
Carlos

carlos · 12th October 2010, 03:29 PM

114 visits and no comments?

Best regards
carlos

VANDOO · 12th October 2010, 04:29 PM

INDEED IT IS A TOP QUALITY SWORD.

THE CARVED HORN HANDLE IS FIRST RATE AND VERY WELL CARVED AND THE ENTIRE SWORD IS OF VERY GOOD WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE SEEN A FEW OF THIS QUALITY SOME OF WHICH HAD PATTERNS INLAYED INTO THE BLADES AS WELL. MOST I HAVE SEEN WOULD FALL INTO WHAT IS CALLED BOLO AND THEY USUALLY HAVE VERY WELL WORKED LEATHER SCABBARDS WITH DESIGNS ON THEM. I THINK THEY COME FROM LUZON AND THEY ARE NOT A COMMON FIND IN THIS QUALITY. SOMEONE GOT LUCKY

THIS IS MY EXAMPLE SORRY FOR THE POOR QUALITY PICTURES BUT THEY WERE TAKEN LONG AGO WITH A POOR CAMERA AND CAMERA MAN

VANDOO · 12th October 2010, 05:12 PM

WHILE I AM AT IT I WILL INCLUDE A FEW MORE PICTURES UNFORTUNATELY NOT MINE BUT VERY GOOD EXAMPLES. I HAVE SEEN THIS QUALITY WORK ON ONE TALIBION WITH A HORN HANDLE BUT MOST HAVE BEEN BOLO'S

Battara · 12th October 2010, 11:16 PM

I agree with Vandoo that this is from the island of Luzon.

I would hesitantly say that this may possibly Pampangan, but not as sure. What points me at present to this conclusion is the tip - notice how it is clipped at an angle. Many Pampangan bolos from the time period have this same clipped point.

Also it belonged to someone who was wealthy and/or of status. Can't say for sure if Katipunan or not.

By the way Barry, I love the light horn, silvered, fisted bolo. Also Pampangan and I think Katipunan due to the fist and how it is carved.

migueldiaz · 13th October 2010, 05:15 AM

Wow! they are very nice

Thanks for all the pics.

VANDOO · 23rd October 2010, 02:38 AM

I MENTIONED A GOOD FANCY TALIBON/GARAB WITH A CARVED HORN HANDLE OF THE QUALITY OF THE BOLOS TO CHARLES AT THE SHOW IN LOUIVILLE. SO HERE ARE PICTURES OF IT AS WELL AS ANOTHER NICE HORN HANDLED BOLO. THERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF THE INLAYED DESIGNS IN THE TALIBON BLADE. SORRY FOR PICTURE QUALITY.
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY ADVANCED SHOP DOING THIS WORK AS THE QUALITY IS SO GOOD. THEY WERE EXPERT AT CARVING HORN AND WOOD AS WELL AS WORKING WITH SILVER AND GOLD AND DOING EXCELLENT INLAY WORK AND LEATHER WORK ON SCABBARDS. THERE MUST BE SOME RECORD OF WHO AND WHERE THEY WERE LOCATED AS THEY ARE LIKE THE TOLEDO WORKS OF THE PHILIPPINES.

migueldiaz · 23rd October 2010, 03:32 AM

thanks, vandoo!

about the fist pommel, in this thread i mentioned that:

"At Museo del Ejercito in Toledo, Spain, there's a Katipunan banner with this image -- two arms shown just from the elbow to the hands; one is holding a blade, and the other is holding by the hair a severed head of what looks a Caucasian (full beard, etc.); the two hands were depicted as a closed fist, especially the one holding the decapitated head by its hair. Thus perhaps (but am just speculating), the closed fist pommel design is related to this Katipunan imagery."

now one of the pics shows human(?) hair being grasped by the fist. if the hair was part of the original sword, then it all adds up.

the deeper significance is that in the philippines' precolonial days, human hair is sometimes used to decorate a sword (kampilan), shield, etc.

and we all know that the 19th century revolutionary katipunan army was also a movement to go back and remember the precolonial ways of filipinos.

it would surely be great to see more examples of the katipunan fist pommel with human hair in its grasp.

David · 23rd October 2010, 03:44 AM

Looks a bit thick and coarse for human hair. Probably horse or goat.

Robert · 23rd October 2010, 05:22 AM

I haven't posted in a while but after seeing all of these beautiful pieces it is hard not too. While all of these are absolutely stunning the one with the light colored carabao horn hilt is indescribable. I have found that trying to type while wiping the drool off of the keyboard is quite difficult. Thank you all for sharing these magnificent pieces.

Robert

migueldiaz · 23rd October 2010, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Looks a bit thick and coarse for human hair. Probably horse or goat.

thanks, david. yes upon closer examination, it does look more like it. the symbolism perhaps remains just the same. regards.

migueldiaz · 23rd October 2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Coleman

I haven't posted in a while but after seeing all of these beautiful pieces it is hard not too. While all of these are absolutely stunning the one with the light colored carabao horn hilt is indescribable. I have found that trying to type while wiping the drool off of the keyboard is quite difficult. Thank you all for sharing these magnificent pieces. - Robert

hello, robert. the light brown horn hilt is surely nice. coming from the rare albino carabao, such material is truly precious. regards.

VANDOO · 26th October 2010, 03:31 AM

IN THE LAST TWO BOLOS PICTURED THERE APPEARS TO BE A LETTER C ON THE BLADES PERHAPS THIS WAS THE MAKERS MARK? SURELY A RECORD OF THIS COMAPNY EXHISTS SOMEWHERE AS ONLY THE WEALTHY OR IMPORTANT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ONE MADE.

11th October 2010, 12:41 PM	#1
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 748	Beautiful sword from Philippines Several months ago I saw this sword in Ebay, and I saved the pictures to my hard disk. Now I have remember this and I´m going to show pictures to the forum, I hope you enjoy it!! This pommel is marvellous!!! Best regards Carlos Attached Images Last edited by carlos; 11th October 2010 at 12:53 PM.

12th October 2010, 04:29 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	INDEED IT IS A TOP QUALITY SWORD. THE CARVED HORN HANDLE IS FIRST RATE AND VERY WELL CARVED AND THE ENTIRE SWORD IS OF VERY GOOD WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE SEEN A FEW OF THIS QUALITY SOME OF WHICH HAD PATTERNS INLAYED INTO THE BLADES AS WELL. MOST I HAVE SEEN WOULD FALL INTO WHAT IS CALLED BOLO AND THEY USUALLY HAVE VERY WELL WORKED LEATHER SCABBARDS WITH DESIGNS ON THEM. I THINK THEY COME FROM LUZON AND THEY ARE NOT A COMMON FIND IN THIS QUALITY. SOMEONE GOT LUCKY THIS IS MY EXAMPLE SORRY FOR THE POOR QUALITY PICTURES BUT THEY WERE TAKEN LONG AGO WITH A POOR CAMERA AND CAMERA MAN Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 12th October 2010 at 04:58 PM.

12th October 2010, 05:12 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WHILE I AM AT IT I WILL INCLUDE A FEW MORE PICTURES UNFORTUNATELY NOT MINE BUT VERY GOOD EXAMPLES. I HAVE SEEN THIS QUALITY WORK ON ONE TALIBION WITH A HORN HANDLE BUT MOST HAVE BEEN BOLO'S Attached Images

23rd October 2010, 02:38 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I MENTIONED A GOOD FANCY TALIBON/GARAB WITH A CARVED HORN HANDLE OF THE QUALITY OF THE BOLOS TO CHARLES AT THE SHOW IN LOUIVILLE. SO HERE ARE PICTURES OF IT AS WELL AS ANOTHER NICE HORN HANDLED BOLO. THERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF THE INLAYED DESIGNS IN THE TALIBON BLADE. SORRY FOR PICTURE QUALITY. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY ADVANCED SHOP DOING THIS WORK AS THE QUALITY IS SO GOOD. THEY WERE EXPERT AT CARVING HORN AND WOOD AS WELL AS WORKING WITH SILVER AND GOLD AND DOING EXCELLENT INLAY WORK AND LEATHER WORK ON SCABBARDS. THERE MUST BE SOME RECORD OF WHO AND WHERE THEY WERE LOCATED AS THEY ARE LIKE THE TOLEDO WORKS OF THE PHILIPPINES. Attached Images

23rd October 2010, 03:32 AM	#8
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	thanks, vandoo! about the fist pommel, in this thread i mentioned that: "At Museo del Ejercito in Toledo, Spain, there's a Katipunan banner with this image -- two arms shown just from the elbow to the hands; one is holding a blade, and the other is holding by the hair a severed head of what looks a Caucasian (full beard, etc.); the two hands were depicted as a closed fist, especially the one holding the decapitated head by its hair. Thus perhaps (but am just speculating), the closed fist pommel design is related to this Katipunan imagery." now one of the pics shows human(?) hair being grasped by the fist. if the hair was part of the original sword, then it all adds up. the deeper significance is that in the philippines' precolonial days, human hair is sometimes used to decorate a sword (kampilan), shield, etc. and we all know that the 19th century revolutionary katipunan army was also a movement to go back and remember the precolonial ways of filipinos. it would surely be great to see more examples of the katipunan fist pommel with human hair in its grasp.

12th October 2010, 03:29 PM	#2
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 748	114 visits and no comments? Best regards carlos

12th October 2010, 11:16 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I agree with Vandoo that this is from the island of Luzon. I would hesitantly say that this may possibly Pampangan, but not as sure. What points me at present to this conclusion is the tip - notice how it is clipped at an angle. Many Pampangan bolos from the time period have this same clipped point. Also it belonged to someone who was wealthy and/or of status. Can't say for sure if Katipunan or not. By the way Barry, I love the light horn, silvered, fisted bolo. Also Pampangan and I think Katipunan due to the fist and how it is carved.

13th October 2010, 05:15 AM	#6
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Wow! they are very nice Thanks for all the pics.

23rd October 2010, 03:44 AM	#9
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Looks a bit thick and coarse for human hair. Probably horse or goat.

23rd October 2010, 05:22 AM	#10
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	I haven't posted in a while but after seeing all of these beautiful pieces it is hard not too. While all of these are absolutely stunning the one with the light colored carabao horn hilt is indescribable. I have found that trying to type while wiping the drool off of the keyboard is quite difficult. Thank you all for sharing these magnificent pieces. Robert

26th October 2010, 03:31 AM	#13
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IN THE LAST TWO BOLOS PICTURED THERE APPEARS TO BE A LETTER C ON THE BLADES PERHAPS THIS WAS THE MAKERS MARK? SURELY A RECORD OF THIS COMAPNY EXHISTS SOMEWHERE AS ONLY THE WEALTHY OR IMPORTANT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ONE MADE.