D&L's Barungs with Ivory Ball's

kino · 31st January 2011, 06:44 PM

Dave has requested that I post photos of these Barungs.
I have dibs on the smaller one

Battara · 31st January 2011, 07:28 PM

First time I have seen anything like this on a barong. For sure these are datu pieces, but this form is new to me. Thanks for posting this for our documentation!

Spunjer · 31st January 2011, 07:38 PM

Nice barung

VANDOO · 1st February 2011, 02:53 AM

CUE BALLS USED TO BE MADE OF IVORY AND WERE USED FOR VARIOUS THINGS CANE TOPS FOR INSTANCE. BUT I SUSPECT THESE ARE TOO SMALL TO BE CUE BALLS. INTERESTING BARONGS IT WOULD NO DOUBT BE AN INTERESTING STORY HOW THEY CAME TOGETHER IN THIS FORM.

Rick · 1st February 2011, 03:02 AM

If I had to guess; I'd guess they were not purpose built for the swords .

Ivory is a valuable commodity/sign of wealth regardless of form .

Robert · 1st February 2011, 06:13 AM

On the smaller one of the two, is that a cartouche of some sort stamped into the blade? It kind of looks Chinese to me or is it just my poor eyesight playing tricks on me again? Either way these are two very beautiful and interesting barongs.

Robert

DaveS · 1st February 2011, 07:20 AM

Robert: Iv'e been told that the chinese marked their ingots of trade iron in
this way. I know that the moros often obtained some of their iron through
trading. I have another sword somewhere with this same mark, but i can't
remember if it is on a kris or barong..........Dave.

KuKulzA28 · 1st February 2011, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveS

Robert: Iv'e been told that the chinese marked their ingots of trade iron in
this way. I know that the moros often obtained some of their iron through
trading. I have another sword somewhere with this same mark, but i can't
remember if it is on a kris or barong..........Dave.

I believe there were also Chinese smiths amongst the Moros and that many Guangdong/Fujian-descent Chinese settled in amongst the Moros (and other Filipinos as well) and intermixed.

I could be wrong but I vaguely remember some connection between Chinese smiths and Ankun barong?

kai · 1st February 2011, 08:20 AM

Hello Dave & Lonna,

Thanks for posting these great pieces! Workmanship looks genuine Moro to me. These pommels are somewhat reminiscent of the bulbous pommel style seen in some Moro kris. However, there are differences in details and I wouldn't go so far to suggest a common ethnic/tribal origin for both hilt types.

And, yes, chinese marks are quite commonly found on genuine Moro pieces, especially on barung blades. Vinny is correct that these were acquired through trade or from local expat Chinese smiths who obviously had a good reputation among the Moro.

BTW, did you obtain these barung together or did they came from unrelated sources? Please share dimensions - thanks!

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 2nd February 2011, 12:12 AM

Kai is 100% correct and blades with Chinese marks were even sought after.

Please more info on these.

DaveS · 2nd February 2011, 01:04 AM

Kai and Jose: Both these barongs were obtained from the same person, but
about seven years apart. I don't know where he got them. Both blades are
heavy, both are a quarter inch thick at their base. The smaller of the two is
12 and three-quarters long. The larger barong is 17 inches long. The ivory
balls on each are about 2 inches in diameter. Total length of ferrule on the
smaller barong is 3 an one-half inches, the bigger, 4 and one-half inches.
Dave.

Spunjer · 9th May 2021, 07:04 PM

These were auctioned yesterday. Are there any more example with these types of pommels?

31st January 2011, 06:44 PM	#1
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,002	D&L's Barungs with Ivory Ball's Dave has requested that I post photos of these Barungs. I have dibs on the smaller one Attached Images

31st January 2011, 07:28 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	First time I have seen anything like this on a barong. For sure these are datu pieces, but this form is new to me. Thanks for posting this for our documentation!

31st January 2011, 07:38 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Nice barung

1st February 2011, 02:53 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CUE BALLS USED TO BE MADE OF IVORY AND WERE USED FOR VARIOUS THINGS CANE TOPS FOR INSTANCE. BUT I SUSPECT THESE ARE TOO SMALL TO BE CUE BALLS. INTERESTING BARONGS IT WOULD NO DOUBT BE AN INTERESTING STORY HOW THEY CAME TOGETHER IN THIS FORM.

1st February 2011, 03:02 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	If I had to guess; I'd guess they were not purpose built for the swords . Ivory is a valuable commodity/sign of wealth regardless of form .

1st February 2011, 06:13 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	On the smaller one of the two, is that a cartouche of some sort stamped into the blade? It kind of looks Chinese to me or is it just my poor eyesight playing tricks on me again? Either way these are two very beautiful and interesting barongs. Robert

1st February 2011, 07:20 AM	#7
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Robert: Iv'e been told that the chinese marked their ingots of trade iron in this way. I know that the moros often obtained some of their iron through trading. I have another sword somewhere with this same mark, but i can't remember if it is on a kris or barong..........Dave.

1st February 2011, 08:20 AM	#9
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Dave & Lonna, Thanks for posting these great pieces! Workmanship looks genuine Moro to me. These pommels are somewhat reminiscent of the bulbous pommel style seen in some Moro kris. However, there are differences in details and I wouldn't go so far to suggest a common ethnic/tribal origin for both hilt types. And, yes, chinese marks are quite commonly found on genuine Moro pieces, especially on barung blades. Vinny is correct that these were acquired through trade or from local expat Chinese smiths who obviously had a good reputation among the Moro. BTW, did you obtain these barung together or did they came from unrelated sources? Please share dimensions - thanks! Regards, Kai

2nd February 2011, 12:12 AM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Kai is 100% correct and blades with Chinese marks were even sought after. Please more info on these.

2nd February 2011, 01:04 AM	#11
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Kai and Jose: Both these barongs were obtained from the same person, but about seven years apart. I don't know where he got them. Both blades are heavy, both are a quarter inch thick at their base. The smaller of the two is 12 and three-quarters long. The larger barong is 17 inches long. The ivory balls on each are about 2 inches in diameter. Total length of ferrule on the smaller barong is 3 an one-half inches, the bigger, 4 and one-half inches. Dave.

9th May 2021, 07:04 PM	#12
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	These were auctioned yesterday. Are there any more example with these types of pommels?