New Maguindanao Kris Form

[Horsa]

Battara,

Fantastic cleaning job on the Kris. Its a stunning improvement - however it does leave me pondering where the line can be drawn between enhancing antique metal and going too far.

Im under the impression its not recommended to remove the patina of an antique weapon.

Clearly you know what you are doing here.

Always antique weapons are purchased in a less than perfect state.

Where does one draw the line?


Horsa

[David]

Originally Posted by Horsa

Battara,
Fantastic cleaning job on the Kris. Its a stunning improvement - however it does leave me pondering where the line can be drawn between enhancing antique metal and going too far.

Im under the impression its not recommended to remove the patina of an antique weapon. Horsa

In regards to "enhancing antique metal", IMHO tarnish is not the same as patina. Precious metals such as silver and gold (suassa) are meant to shine. Even when i watch the Antique Roadshow they suggest that silver items are meant to be kept in polish. I think José has done a crackerjack job bringing this old weapon up to snuff.
However, were i personally draw the line is at adding on pieces that we assume might have once been there, especially when we are unsure. Firstly we need to ask ourselves if we are really capable of doing the job so that it doesn't look like modern add-on work. Will the materials and craftsmanship perfectly match? I have rarely seen modified antique weapons done by anybody were their modern modifications aren't immediately obvious as such. Secondly there is the history of the piece which i feel should be preserved at all costs. Many kris have just a single baka-baka, perhaps more than have two. I am not clear whether this is simply a matter of taste or style or what. Now IF this is actually the same weapon as the one pictured with Datu Piang then it did indeed seem to have had two baka-baka at one time. But we have no evidence of how or why one of those baka-baka were removed. Was it lost, broken or removed by choice of style? How do we in the modern age then decide if it belongs there or not? IMHO José, the kris looks fine as it is. If it had NO baka-baka at all i could see at least some reason to add one in order to secure the hilt properly, but given the current condition of piece i just wouldn't mess with the history of it. If it truly is Datu Piang's keris that history should be preserved, not enhanced.

[Battara]

I will consider these arguments.

[Spunjer]

ok, a little update:

in a recent conversation i have with Amai Mingka's (Datu Piang) granddaughter, i mentioned this kris. according to the story that was passed on to her by her grandma, Datu Piang has a personal panday in Dulawan (incidentally, that town is now known as Datu Piang). whenever he has a particular weapon made, whether it be kris, spears, etc., he would commission this panday to make multiple copies, and he would give these pieces to foreign dignitaries who visited him and had given him gifts. now, this would make sense why this piece and the one on the historical picture is so similar...
in a way, this change the common perception in which each individual kris was made to one specific person.
sooo, there's a strong possibility that your piece might be "as is", batara. a similar handle was made, an extra blade lying around, personal panday of Datu Piang put it together, then BAM! instant replica of his favorite sword...

[Battara]

Thanks so much Spunger. This sheds all kinds of light on this piece. Explains why this is identical and yet not identical to the one in the picture. So there is an even higher possibility that this belonged to Datu Piang, even though it is not the one in the picture.

By the way, I have decided not to put the straps up the hilt - would have modify or replace the twisted silver wire. I am not willing to do that nor do anything in which certainty is not assured.

Now for the baka-baka, that is a different matter. Still thinking on that.

[Battara]

Just thought I would place these pictures in black and white to better compare them without color distraction. There are enough tiny differences to my eye to show that these are not the exact same in the hilts (excluding the ring question).

Also, I think it interesting that although Datu Piang may have had several of theses made, he approved of this specific form and design and liked it enough to have it copied for his use.

[Spunjer]

just a theory, but perhaps the kris pictured with him would be his personal favorite. copies were made, and were given to some real important dignitaries...