Pair of Moro Barong

VANDOO · 15th November 2010, 04:05 AM

NICE BARONGS

IN YOUR SECOND SET OF PICTURES THE TOP PICTURE HAS TWO WOVEN BANDS AROUND THE METAL GRIP. I RECENTLY SAW A SIMULAR EXAMPLE AND THE OWNER SAID IT WAS MADE OF WOVEN HUMAN HAIR LIKELY A FAMILY MEMBER OR ANCESTOR. HE SAID PERHAPS IT WAS A SORT OF TAISMAN OR CHARM FOR PROTECTION, SORT OF A WAY TO TAKE FAMILY OR ANCESTORS TO BATTLE WITH YOU. I HAVE NOT READ THIS ABOUT THE MORO BUT IT COULD COME FROM AN OLDER TRIBAL BELIEF. I HAVE HEARD SOMETHING SIMULAR REGARDING CERTIAN KERIS HANDLES IN BALI AND DID SEE THE HUMAN HAIR.
PLEASE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THEM WITH GOOD MAGNIFICATION AND CHECK AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU FIND. IF ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS PLEASE JUMP IN AS IT IS A NEW BIT OF INFO TO ME AT LEAST AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ITS TRUE OR FALSE. THE ONE I SAW SEEMED TO HAVE A COATING OF SOMETHING TO SECURE AND PROTECT THE HAIR AND I HAD NO LOUPE WITH ME SO COULDN'T TELL MUCH BUT LOOKED VERY SIMULAR TO YOUR EXAMPLE. THANKS IN ADVANCE

Robert · 15th November 2010, 05:00 AM

Hello Vandoo, Are you referring to bands like these? These are on a barong in my collection but they seem to be coated with what feels to be some sort of wax or resin (as well as dust) which makes it hard to really tell what they are made of. Tomorrow I will try to put it under magnification and see if I can tell more about its composition.

Robert

carlitobrigante · 15th November 2010, 02:16 PM

great info guys, really appreciated. Will post some better pics when the first one pictured arrives, the other landed with me the other day.

VANDOO · 15th November 2010, 05:57 PM

YES BANDS LIKE THOSE.

WITH THAT MANY BANDS THOUGH THEY MAY NOT ALL BE HAIR OR IT MAY JUST HAVE SOME MIXED IN IF ITS THERE. THE ONE I SAW WAS SMALL AND UNIFORM IN COLOR AND MATERIAL.
I HAD ALWAYS JUST ASSUMED THE ONLY PURPOSE THESE FIBER BANDS SERVED WAS TO IMPROVE THE GRIP OR POSSIBLY COVER A SEAM. I FURTHER ASSUMED SOME KIND OF PLANT FIBER CORD WAS USED FOR THE PURPOSE. IT IS LIKELY IN MOST CASES OR PERHAPS IN MORE RECENT TIMES PLANT FIBER IS USED. BUT THE POSSIBILITY DOES EXHIST THAT WOVEN HUMAN HAIR MAY BE USED OR HAVE BEEN USED. SO ITS WORTH TAKEING A CLOSER LOOK AND SEEING IF SUCH EXAMPLES ARE IN OUR COLLECTIONS AND TO LOOK FOR WRITEN REFRENCES TO IT.
HUMAN HAIR DOES HAVE SIGNIFICANCE IN MOST HUMAN SOCIETY EVEN MY MOM HAD A SMALL TUFT OF MY HAIR FROM WHEN I WAS A BABY AS A KEEPSAKE. I MENTIONED THE KERIS HANDLES IN BALI AND THEY SAID THE HAIR USUALLY WAS SUPPLIED BY A FEMALE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS TO BE FOUND. THE ONE I LOOKED AT WAS COVERED WITH SOMETHING BUT IT WAS VERY FINE FIBER OR HAIR NOT THICK LIKE ANIMAL HAIR OR MOST PLANT FIBERS.

Spunjer · 17th November 2010, 05:42 AM

indeed it might have some important significance, vandoo. not only on barungs, but i've seen these type of bands on my krises. but here's a more obvious hair-on-weapon example; on a budiak, awak-awak, a more personal type carried by an individual much like a barung or kris:

carlitobrigante · 17th November 2010, 05:09 PM

i was abit sceptical of the whole human hair idea, only because these woven bands are so common on these i thought it would have been mentioned somewhere before if they were indeed human hair.

After seeing Spunjers pic though i now think you might be onto something. If that hair on the budiak was twisted and lacquered it would look just like whats currently woven around the barong.

Very cool if true, awesome way of carrying your ancestors into battle.

On a side note i now have both Barongs in my possesion. Gave the older one a quick clean and a warm vinegar etch which has brought the pattern out more but kept it subtle which is how i like it.

Also on advice from a fellow forumite im going to try and get my library to hook me up with a copy of Catos book to study in library. Will try to get some decent scans / pics.

Maurice · 21st November 2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

indeed it might have some important significance, vandoo. not only on barungs, but i've seen these type of bands on my krises. but here's a more obvious hair-on-weapon example; on a budiak, awak-awak, a more personal type carried by an individual much like a barung or kris:

Great piece Ron!!!

Spunjer · 21st November 2010, 03:13 PM

Carlito, glad u got fast and trouble! I'm sure it found a great home.
maurice, yeah, definitely one of my pride and joy. The whole collar was definitely a lavor of love, braiding brass wires and strips like that...

15th November 2010, 05:00 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Vandoo, Are you referring to bands like these? These are on a barong in my collection but they seem to be coated with what feels to be some sort of wax or resin (as well as dust) which makes it hard to really tell what they are made of. Tomorrow I will try to put it under magnification and see if I can tell more about its composition. Robert Attached Images

17th November 2010, 05:42 AM	#5
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	indeed it might have some important significance, vandoo. not only on barungs, but i've seen these type of bands on my krises. but here's a more obvious hair-on-weapon example; on a budiak, awak-awak, a more personal type carried by an individual much like a barung or kris: Attached Images

15th November 2010, 04:05 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	NICE BARONGS IN YOUR SECOND SET OF PICTURES THE TOP PICTURE HAS TWO WOVEN BANDS AROUND THE METAL GRIP. I RECENTLY SAW A SIMULAR EXAMPLE AND THE OWNER SAID IT WAS MADE OF WOVEN HUMAN HAIR LIKELY A FAMILY MEMBER OR ANCESTOR. HE SAID PERHAPS IT WAS A SORT OF TAISMAN OR CHARM FOR PROTECTION, SORT OF A WAY TO TAKE FAMILY OR ANCESTORS TO BATTLE WITH YOU. I HAVE NOT READ THIS ABOUT THE MORO BUT IT COULD COME FROM AN OLDER TRIBAL BELIEF. I HAVE HEARD SOMETHING SIMULAR REGARDING CERTIAN KERIS HANDLES IN BALI AND DID SEE THE HUMAN HAIR. PLEASE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THEM WITH GOOD MAGNIFICATION AND CHECK AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU FIND. IF ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS PLEASE JUMP IN AS IT IS A NEW BIT OF INFO TO ME AT LEAST AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ITS TRUE OR FALSE. THE ONE I SAW SEEMED TO HAVE A COATING OF SOMETHING TO SECURE AND PROTECT THE HAIR AND I HAD NO LOUPE WITH ME SO COULDN'T TELL MUCH BUT LOOKED VERY SIMULAR TO YOUR EXAMPLE. THANKS IN ADVANCE

15th November 2010, 02:16 PM	#3
carlitobrigante Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 81	great info guys, really appreciated. Will post some better pics when the first one pictured arrives, the other landed with me the other day.

15th November 2010, 05:57 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YES BANDS LIKE THOSE. WITH THAT MANY BANDS THOUGH THEY MAY NOT ALL BE HAIR OR IT MAY JUST HAVE SOME MIXED IN IF ITS THERE. THE ONE I SAW WAS SMALL AND UNIFORM IN COLOR AND MATERIAL. I HAD ALWAYS JUST ASSUMED THE ONLY PURPOSE THESE FIBER BANDS SERVED WAS TO IMPROVE THE GRIP OR POSSIBLY COVER A SEAM. I FURTHER ASSUMED SOME KIND OF PLANT FIBER CORD WAS USED FOR THE PURPOSE. IT IS LIKELY IN MOST CASES OR PERHAPS IN MORE RECENT TIMES PLANT FIBER IS USED. BUT THE POSSIBILITY DOES EXHIST THAT WOVEN HUMAN HAIR MAY BE USED OR HAVE BEEN USED. SO ITS WORTH TAKEING A CLOSER LOOK AND SEEING IF SUCH EXAMPLES ARE IN OUR COLLECTIONS AND TO LOOK FOR WRITEN REFRENCES TO IT. HUMAN HAIR DOES HAVE SIGNIFICANCE IN MOST HUMAN SOCIETY EVEN MY MOM HAD A SMALL TUFT OF MY HAIR FROM WHEN I WAS A BABY AS A KEEPSAKE. I MENTIONED THE KERIS HANDLES IN BALI AND THEY SAID THE HAIR USUALLY WAS SUPPLIED BY A FEMALE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS TO BE FOUND. THE ONE I LOOKED AT WAS COVERED WITH SOMETHING BUT IT WAS VERY FINE FIBER OR HAIR NOT THICK LIKE ANIMAL HAIR OR MOST PLANT FIBERS.

17th November 2010, 05:09 PM	#6
carlitobrigante Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 81	i was abit sceptical of the whole human hair idea, only because these woven bands are so common on these i thought it would have been mentioned somewhere before if they were indeed human hair. After seeing Spunjers pic though i now think you might be onto something. If that hair on the budiak was twisted and lacquered it would look just like whats currently woven around the barong. Very cool if true, awesome way of carrying your ancestors into battle. On a side note i now have both Barongs in my possesion. Gave the older one a quick clean and a warm vinegar etch which has brought the pattern out more but kept it subtle which is how i like it. Also on advice from a fellow forumite im going to try and get my library to hook me up with a copy of Catos book to study in library. Will try to get some decent scans / pics.

21st November 2010, 03:13 PM	#8
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Carlito, glad u got fast and trouble! I'm sure it found a great home. maurice, yeah, definitely one of my pride and joy. The whole collar was definitely a lavor of love, braiding brass wires and strips like that...