Gunong with missing pommel

[Sajen]

The silver is cleaned and the end cap as well the ferrule from silver is repaired and I have etched the blade. the pictures are a little bit blurry, will take better ones tomorrow by day light. The blade become very dark by etching with vinegar but show a clear lamination. What do you think, is it worth to receive an ivory pommel?

[David]

Personally i think you would be wasting the ivory on this piece....and while some of those bands might well be Moro they still look to me like a mismatched grouping that were not originally together on a single hilt.

[Battara]

Thanks Sajen for reminding me. Maybe is the operative word. The filigree work could be Sulu or Mindanao. Seen both. If solid silver could be Sulu, though recently I think I have seen Mindanao pieces like that as well. Certainly if plated it is definitely Mindanao.

I do wonder if the scabbard is an even later replacement for this piece. Dimensions seem a little bit larger than needed for the guard.

Tough to evaluate.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

Thanks Sajen for reminding me. Maybe is the operative word. The filigree work could be Sulu or Mindanao. Seen both. If solid silver could be Sulu, though recently I think I have seen Mindanao pieces like that as well. Certainly if plated it is definitely Mindanao.

I do wonder if the scabbard is an even later replacement for this piece. Dimensions seem a little bit larger than needed for the guard.

Tough to evaluate.

Hello Jose,

it is certainly solid silver. You could be correct that the scabbard is a later replacement, the fit look strange to me as well. But the length is correct for the blade and the blade fit well inside the scabbard. Otherwise it look strange from up, see picture.

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by David

Personally i think you would be wasting the ivory on this piece....and while some of those bands might well be Moro they still look to me like a mismatched grouping that were not originally together on a single hilt.

Hi David,

I am as well still uncertain which material I shall use for the pommel. But I am sure that the fittings are made for this blade but if they are old as the blade is a other question. And it is maybe more difficult to find banati wood than ivory of which sort ever.

Regards,

Detlef

[David]

Originally Posted by Sajen

But I am sure that the fittings are made for this blade but if they are old as the blade is a other question.

Can you explain to me why you are so sure of this. What i see are 4 bands of rather different styles and techniques that seem to be made of 4 completely different qualities of silver. Each has a completely different pattern and they don't see to compliment each other. Not something i can remember seeing on any complete pieces i have seen. What am i missing here?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by David

Can you explain to me why you are so sure of this. What i see are 4 bands of rather different styles and techniques that seem to be made of 4 completely different qualities of silver. Each has a completely different pattern and they don't see to compliment each other. Not something i can remember seeing on any complete pieces i have seen. What am i missing here?

Hi David,

no different quality of the silver, some are cleaned chemically by the jeweller while others are polished by hand so the different look. The silver is tested BTW. The strange look of the comlete dagger I mentioned already by my first post to this dagger. I am sure that the fittings are made for the blade because all have a oval cross section, nothing I have seen before by a gunong. All other I have and have seen are round in cross section. So I am sure that all parts of the bands are special made for this piece. If all made at the same time or a addition at a later time because something was broken I can't say of course.

Regards,

Detlef

[David]

OK Detlef, but i have never seen such a mismatching of pattern, design and technique used on silver work for a gunong hilt before. I think we will just have to agree to disagree...

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by David

OK Detlef, but i have never seen such a mismatching of pattern, design and technique used on silver work for a gunong hilt before. I think we will just have to agree to disagree...

Hi David,

maybe we have to agree at this point!
But have again a look to this picture from the seller, IMHO it isn't so missmatching but very worn and like I think very unusal.

Regards,

Detlef