12th June 2023, 12:05 PM | #1 |
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Kris for comment
This kris sat on eBay for a long time (probably over a year). I risked buying it because I felt it was special.
After receiving it all the way from Greece, I realized the hilt was already compromised (it had a large, median crack and disintegrating hemp wrap). I decided to replace with a vintage Maguindanao hilt that I had, but still retained the original broken pommel (the crest was torn clean off). I etched it afterwards, and was pleased with the results. Another noteworthy thing about the kris is its scabbard plate pattern. It's non-Moro. Being familiar with some Luzon patterns, I compared it with acanthus leaf found on Spanish-era furniture. The pics I enclosed are from a 19th century comoda made either in Batangas or Laguna. I'm theorizing that a migrant Tagalog artisan in Moroland made the carving. It's also possible that the piece was captured, and the second owner decided to have it personalized in a Tagalog area. The mixed heritage of some PH blades is really interesting, and helps flesh out the possible journey of a blade through bygone eras. Last edited by xasterix; 12th June 2023 at 12:39 PM. |
12th June 2023, 10:44 PM | #2 |
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Thanks, Ray, that is a very elegant blade as far as non-archaic pieces are concerned!
I'd guess this dates back to the mid-19th century. Also twistcore is rare with diamond cross-sections. Could you add dimensions, please? Do you have pics of the original configuration even if damaged? I'm afraid that I don't see much semblance of the crosspiece carving with the Filipino style shown; especially the mediterranean Acanthus motif seems to be missing. I'd rather posit that there seem to be Melayu ties: While most Malay motifs represent flowers with radial symmetry, a few may be shown in profile; also the vegetal/vine motif seems to be closer IMHO. For example, fairly similar flowers are shown in "Spirit of Wood" on pages 86-87 (top figure). If not traditional Moro/Sulu ukkil, maybe more recent influence via Brunei? Regards, Kai |
12th June 2023, 11:34 PM | #3 |
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Correction
Sorry, pp. 96-97: FL005.
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13th June 2023, 02:17 AM | #4 | |
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13th June 2023, 03:37 AM | #5 |
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Very nice sword Xas, and even better resto work. Congratulations.
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13th June 2023, 10:43 AM | #6 |
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13th June 2023, 11:05 AM | #7 |
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Nice buying xasterix, and sweet blade.
Carved Sampir are not all that common... I've referenced what examples I have on file and whilst most are loosely ths profile shape, none carry the same or similar motifs. |
13th June 2023, 03:05 PM | #8 |
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Thanks Gavin! The carving motif is indeed interesting, hoping to get to the bottom of it
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13th June 2023, 09:42 PM | #9 |
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Very nice and interesting kris! Congrats Xas.
Here a picture from the pages Kai mentioned before. Regards, Detlef |
14th June 2023, 08:05 AM | #10 |
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Xas,
On looking more closely at your pictures of the Luzon furniture and the kris scabbard, I think the plants are actually different. I've blown up both pics. On the scabbard you can see distinct flowers, with the central ovule and three surrounding petals. There may be two different flowers represented on the scabbard if you compare the most central one with the others (pointed versus rounded leaves). On the furniture, the three-lobed structures have no central ovule and are probably not flowers. They are multi-layered and could be seed pods or perhaps leaf buds, but not flowers. Lovely carving BTW. I think you are looking at different botanical species in each picture. Ian. . |
14th June 2023, 09:05 AM | #11 |
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14th June 2023, 09:05 AM | #12 | |
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15th June 2023, 03:28 PM | #13 |
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What an amazing find. Your intuition led you to it. I’ve glanced at that Kris several times but never thought what lay below the blades patina. Congrats.
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16th June 2023, 04:57 AM | #14 |
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19th June 2023, 07:20 AM | #15 | |
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On the off chance that the Met holds a kris with carvings to the sheath, this might be worth a follow up. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collec...nce&pageSize=0 |
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19th June 2023, 03:51 PM | #16 | |
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23rd June 2023, 05:08 AM | #17 |
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Gavin, Have you seen this publication?
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27th June 2023, 02:15 AM | #18 |
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Xasterix, I will admit that I've seen this type of ukkil before, but I have not been able to attribute it to any Moro group yet. It is unusual though.
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27th June 2023, 02:30 PM | #19 | |
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http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=kris+sabre Interesting that the shape of the scabbard is the same, and the carving motif very similar. |
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29th June 2023, 02:58 AM | #20 |
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Yes that scabbard shape like this one seems indicative of Sulu work, and the ukkil of the other scabbard also seems Sulu.
Yours - a Sulu variant? Different tribe in the region? |
29th June 2023, 05:31 AM | #21 |
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I've been told by Sulu and Mindanao elders that the pattern is not ukkil nor okir. Non-Moro, simply put. It doesn't follow the conventions of Moro patterns.
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1st July 2023, 02:27 AM | #22 |
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I agree - not traditional Moro okir/ukkil
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2nd July 2023, 04:22 AM | #23 |
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