Unusual Moro Barong Sword

Robert · 17th July 2014, 11:48 PM

Hello Charles, Not wanting to just repeat what everyone else has said so far I will just say WOW.

The Ferrule and the scabbard carving are some of (if not) the nicest I've seen so far on a barong. My congratulations and thank you for sharing this with all of us here on the forum.

Best,
Robert

Battara · 18th July 2014, 01:03 AM

Well, I must agree with Ian - possibly Brunei. I will add one other possibility - perhaps a Chinese Moro or Malay. I have seen work like this from Chinese craftsmen before.

Now for origin: my guess might be either Samal (as Ian suggested) or possibly the village of Bun-Bun?

One other thought: this might have been owned by a pang lima - a regional leader (not just a data) or a representative of the sultan.

By the way - the metal may be gold plated or may be gold alloyed not with copper but with silver, at 10k+ (testing would best determine what).

Ian · 18th July 2014, 01:49 AM

Charles:

I would like to share a couple of mine on this thread also. This one has a silver ferrule but also has the tilted "wrangka" similar to your example. Another fairly long ferrule with two woven silver wire bands at the top end.

Ian · 18th July 2014, 01:57 AM

I thought the ferrule on this one was copper until I had it tested. It came back 10K gold with copper alloy. This is a plain-looking Moro ferrule IMO. The carved simple wooden pommel is very well done and the wood is high grade. There are multiple bands of braided silver wire at the end of the ferrule. No scabbard with this one unfortunately. The ferrule on this one is shorter than my other example suggesting a different tribal origin (?Taussag).

Spunjer · 18th July 2014, 02:31 AM

excellent Barung, brother Charles!
the motif on the handle is totally un-Islamic (from the Moro's perspective at that time period), given actual floral patterns. on the other hand, five petal flowers in ukkil fashion is common among Suluanos' arts and crafts. understand as well that there's a large chinese population in Sulu, making me think this particular piece is Sulu, most likely crafted/owned by a chinese Joloano...

CharlesS · 18th July 2014, 12:03 PM

Thanks for all the input guys.

Regarding the ferrule, I agree it does not look Moro at all. I can see the Indo-Malay possibilities and the Chinese/Filipino as well. Jose and I had discussed Chinese artisans in the Philippines before.

I had not thought about the similarities to SE Asian dha/daab decoration, but compared it after reading Ian's suggestion, and there are, indeed, similarities, especially with the segmented, cartouche-like motifs.

Thanks again for the kind comments and input!

18th July 2014, 01:49 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Another tilted "wrangka" Charles: I would like to share a couple of mine on this thread also. This one has a silver ferrule but also has the tilted "wrangka" similar to your example. Another fairly long ferrule with two woven silver wire bands at the top end. Attached Images

18th July 2014, 01:57 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Another gold (suassa) ferrule I thought the ferrule on this one was copper until I had it tested. It came back 10K gold with copper alloy. This is a plain-looking Moro ferrule IMO. The carved simple wooden pommel is very well done and the wood is high grade. There are multiple bands of braided silver wire at the end of the ferrule. No scabbard with this one unfortunately. The ferrule on this one is shorter than my other example suggesting a different tribal origin (?Taussag). Attached Images

17th July 2014, 11:48 PM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Charles, Not wanting to just repeat what everyone else has said so far I will just say WOW. The Ferrule and the scabbard carving are some of (if not) the nicest I've seen so far on a barong. My congratulations and thank you for sharing this with all of us here on the forum. Best, Robert

18th July 2014, 01:03 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Well, I must agree with Ian - possibly Brunei. I will add one other possibility - perhaps a Chinese Moro or Malay. I have seen work like this from Chinese craftsmen before. Now for origin: my guess might be either Samal (as Ian suggested) or possibly the village of Bun-Bun? One other thought: this might have been owned by a pang lima - a regional leader (not just a data) or a representative of the sultan. By the way - the metal may be gold plated or may be gold alloyed not with copper but with silver, at 10k+ (testing would best determine what).

18th July 2014, 02:31 AM	#5
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	excellent Barung, brother Charles! the motif on the handle is totally un-Islamic (from the Moro's perspective at that time period), given actual floral patterns. on the other hand, five petal flowers in ukkil fashion is common among Suluanos' arts and crafts. understand as well that there's a large chinese population in Sulu, making me think this particular piece is Sulu, most likely crafted/owned by a chinese Joloano...

18th July 2014, 12:03 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Thanks for all the input guys. Regarding the ferrule, I agree it does not look Moro at all. I can see the Indo-Malay possibilities and the Chinese/Filipino as well. Jose and I had discussed Chinese artisans in the Philippines before. I had not thought about the similarities to SE Asian dha/daab decoration, but compared it after reading Ian's suggestion, and there are, indeed, similarities, especially with the segmented, cartouche-like motifs. Thanks again for the kind comments and input!