Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Battara · 14th September 2010, 12:54 AM

Here I disagree with Kai a little. I feel that this is no later than the turn of the century. I have noticed that after that time, the junggayan hilts disappear and the gold plated hilts and lesser quality hilts come into play. Even 1920s pictures of Moro datus sporting these types of kris are actually holding older kris.

I have seen this piece in person and can tell you some things:

1. the ganga is in fact separated, 2. the quality of okir filigree is better than that of later work, 3. blade is not the same as that of the later forms starting after 1915 with sharp luks - this one has smoother rounded luks.

These are some of the other reasons that I place an earlier date on this piece.

I also agree with Maurice in that there were originally silver bands and then silver braided bands on the hilt, though I did not think of silver okir bands - probably depends on where it came from (Maguindanao - okir, Sulu - plain). This piece I would attribute to Sulu.

I also bid on it but......well........ah............

Yes nice piece Charles (grumble, grumble, envy, envy......)

14th September 2010, 12:54 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Here I disagree with Kai a little. I feel that this is no later than the turn of the century. I have noticed that after that time, the junggayan hilts disappear and the gold plated hilts and lesser quality hilts come into play. Even 1920s pictures of Moro datus sporting these types of kris are actually holding older kris. I have seen this piece in person and can tell you some things: 1. the ganga is in fact separated, 2. the quality of okir filigree is better than that of later work, 3. blade is not the same as that of the later forms starting after 1915 with sharp luks - this one has smoother rounded luks. These are some of the other reasons that I place an earlier date on this piece. I also agree with Maurice in that there were originally silver bands and then silver braided bands on the hilt, though I did not think of silver okir bands - probably depends on where it came from (Maguindanao - okir, Sulu - plain). This piece I would attribute to Sulu. I also bid on it but......well........ah............ Yes nice piece Charles (grumble, grumble, envy, envy......)