Any info on this Barong?

Battara · 26th August 2017, 10:33 PM

This indeed a Sulu barong, in fact it probably belonged to a datu and is a working datu barong. Datu working barongs used for everyday work had the tail part and nose parts like this one. Those with these elaborations are called junggayan style, and you have a datu junggayan barong. Kronckew is right in that these were often broken off in later years.

The junggayan style of barong and kris is understood to be from the late 1800s. So I would guess that your piece is from the late 1800s to the early 20th century.

Now I am not surprised that a later owner tried to match a scabbard to this and thus the reason why they don't fit together. (It is also possible but less likely that the wood shrank so much that it won't wrap around the blade.) In fact your blade appears wider than the scabbard.

On the blade edge, the shape looks like it is beveled. If it is, this too is a little less common and is called a shadrigan blade.

Where the blade and the hilt meet, is that copper or brass?

Congratulations on a nice first piece!

CharlesS · 26th August 2017, 11:16 PM

Lovely example...congrats! Always so nice to see one of these with the pommel complete. It is obvious even from period photos that the lovely pommel carvings were frequently broken off.

Great get!

26th August 2017, 10:33 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,348	This indeed a Sulu barong, in fact it probably belonged to a datu and is a working datu barong. Datu working barongs used for everyday work had the tail part and nose parts like this one. Those with these elaborations are called junggayan style, and you have a datu junggayan barong. Kronckew is right in that these were often broken off in later years. The junggayan style of barong and kris is understood to be from the late 1800s. So I would guess that your piece is from the late 1800s to the early 20th century. Now I am not surprised that a later owner tried to match a scabbard to this and thus the reason why they don't fit together. (It is also possible but less likely that the wood shrank so much that it won't wrap around the blade.) In fact your blade appears wider than the scabbard. On the blade edge, the shape looks like it is beveled. If it is, this too is a little less common and is called a shadrigan blade. Where the blade and the hilt meet, is that copper or brass? Congratulations on a nice first piece!

26th August 2017, 11:16 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Lovely example...congrats! Always so nice to see one of these with the pommel complete. It is obvious even from period photos that the lovely pommel carvings were frequently broken off. Great get!