Moro Spear

Robert · 2nd August 2011, 03:23 AM

Here is the spear that came with the other items that I have been posting. The metal head is 16-3/4 inches long from the rattan bands to the tip and is 1=3/4 inches at its widest. The overall length of this is 84-1/2 inches. The wooden shaft is carved like shown for the complete length of the shaft with the spaces between the ridges growing farther apart as they get closer to the end. Sorry about the picture quality but it was a balmy 105 degrees and very sunny today. I did try to get a decent overall picture but none turned out good enough to post. All comments and information on this will be greatly welcomed.

Robert

Battara · 2nd August 2011, 03:35 AM

Nice spear, did all of this come from the same person (besides your wife)?

Robert · 2nd August 2011, 03:50 AM

Yes, they all came from one person. The person that she got these items from said that they were all brought back from the Philippines by his Great Grandfather who was a missionary. He is supposed to be sending my wife more information on where his Great Grandfather was when he was there and when.

Robert

Battara · 2nd August 2011, 04:54 AM

Provenance is great!

imas560 · 2nd August 2011, 05:35 AM

What a treasure trove. I am very jealous.

Robert · 2nd August 2011, 05:52 AM

Jose, Yes provenance is great a great thing to have. I just hope that the information arrives soon.

Imas560, Thank you for your kind words, but believe me when I say that shocked doesn't even start to describe how I felt when this all arrived on my doorstep.

Robert

kai · 2nd August 2011, 09:29 AM

The complete package!

Robert, fess up and tell us what the 6th piece looks like!

Nice spear with original binding; looks like all items were stored in a dry attic for a long while - preservation seems above average.

While I usually balk at what sometimes passes for provenance ("from the Tirri collection" or somesuch crap), it is really great to obtain sound info from the original heirs, especially if this may help to pin down the (likely) origin of these pieces. If all these came from the same region, I guess this may be some coastal area on Mindanao (including the Zamboanga peninsula) - please keep us posted.

BTW, the shaft/pole is rattan (a climbing palm) with its natural nodes - no carving needed.

Regards,
Kai

Robert · 2nd August 2011, 06:12 PM

Hello Kai, I will be posting the sixth and final piece either later today or tomorrow. As for what it is it is another Kris with a cast silver pommel and bands. Unfortunately it is the only piece that was damaged during storage and I am trying to straighten it out a little before posting pictures.

Thank you for you thoughts on these and I believe you are correct in where they might have been stored. The reason that I thought the shaft on this was carved wood is that it is very solid all the way through and I thought that rattan had either a hollow core like bamboo or a soft pithy core like a lot of other grasses. I guess that I should do a little more research before posting.

Thank you again.

Robert

RSWORD · 3rd August 2011, 01:09 PM

I recommend an etch on the blade as I suspect it may be twistcore.

2nd August 2011, 03:23 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Moro Spear Here is the spear that came with the other items that I have been posting. The metal head is 16-3/4 inches long from the rattan bands to the tip and is 1=3/4 inches at its widest. The overall length of this is 84-1/2 inches. The wooden shaft is carved like shown for the complete length of the shaft with the spaces between the ridges growing farther apart as they get closer to the end. Sorry about the picture quality but it was a balmy 105 degrees and very sunny today. I did try to get a decent overall picture but none turned out good enough to post. All comments and information on this will be greatly welcomed. Robert Attached Images

2nd August 2011, 03:35 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Nice spear, did all of this come from the same person (besides your wife)?

2nd August 2011, 03:50 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Yes, they all came from one person. The person that she got these items from said that they were all brought back from the Philippines by his Great Grandfather who was a missionary. He is supposed to be sending my wife more information on where his Great Grandfather was when he was there and when. Robert

2nd August 2011, 04:54 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Provenance is great!

2nd August 2011, 05:35 AM	#5
imas560 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 180	What a treasure trove. I am very jealous.

2nd August 2011, 05:52 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Jose, Yes provenance is great a great thing to have. I just hope that the information arrives soon. Imas560, Thank you for your kind words, but believe me when I say that shocked doesn't even start to describe how I felt when this all arrived on my doorstep. Robert

2nd August 2011, 09:29 AM	#7
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	The complete package! Robert, fess up and tell us what the 6th piece looks like! Nice spear with original binding; looks like all items were stored in a dry attic for a long while - preservation seems above average. While I usually balk at what sometimes passes for provenance ("from the Tirri collection" or somesuch crap), it is really great to obtain sound info from the original heirs, especially if this may help to pin down the (likely) origin of these pieces. If all these came from the same region, I guess this may be some coastal area on Mindanao (including the Zamboanga peninsula) - please keep us posted. BTW, the shaft/pole is rattan (a climbing palm) with its natural nodes - no carving needed. Regards, Kai

2nd August 2011, 06:12 PM	#8
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Kai, I will be posting the sixth and final piece either later today or tomorrow. As for what it is it is another Kris with a cast silver pommel and bands. Unfortunately it is the only piece that was damaged during storage and I am trying to straighten it out a little before posting pictures. Thank you for you thoughts on these and I believe you are correct in where they might have been stored. The reason that I thought the shaft on this was carved wood is that it is very solid all the way through and I thought that rattan had either a hollow core like bamboo or a soft pithy core like a lot of other grasses. I guess that I should do a little more research before posting. Thank you again. Robert

3rd August 2011, 01:09 PM	#9
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	I recommend an etch on the blade as I suspect it may be twistcore.