Ivory Hilt Barong from Borneo

Battara · 23rd June 2016, 01:19 PM

I would say yes it is from Borneo, especially based on the larger and thicker scabbard common to that region. There are Moros on Borneo on the province of Sabah.

Not too long ago, the Philippine Moros made a claim that Sabah belonged to them (actually they always claimed this in the name of the Sultanate of Sulu).

I wish I had the funds for this unusual version.............

Aslan Paladin · 23rd June 2016, 01:44 PM

What a missed opportunity to own such a rare item then (sigh). Hopefully a forum member got it and would post pictures. Have you seen any similar barungs from Borneo before?

Battara · 24th June 2016, 04:07 AM

Yes I have seen pictures of them. Here are some threads addressing this issue:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=borneo+barong

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=borneo+barong

Battara · 24th June 2016, 04:08 AM

Also here is an old example of a Borneo barong from www.mytribalworld.com :

Aslan Paladin · 24th June 2016, 05:04 AM

I mean ceremonial type barungs made with ivory or even silver hilts from Borneo. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear about that. I guess the scabbard of the ivory barung does clearly show the characteristic Borneo style, albeit in an appropriately more ornate style befitting the high status of the sword. Is it safe to say as well that the silver fittings of the hilt consists of motifs (geometric pattern, cut-outs or openwork on the silver, and thick silver braid) that is characteristic of Borneo origin?

Battara · 24th June 2016, 03:41 PM

Ah..........I misunderstood.

I have to admit, I have not seen a datu class Borneo barong before.

So........perhaps the motifs on this barong may be typical of Borneo datu barongs, although of course one example does not make a pattern.

That being said, notice at the top of the pommel where the cut out silver is - that is closer to classic Moro floral motif.

Aslan Paladin · 24th June 2016, 09:36 PM

Yup, I see what you mean, the stylised vegetal Moro form which is in stark contrast with the more realistic depiction like that of Borneo, Sumatra or even Java. Hopefully more datu class barungs from Borneo will turn up in the future so that we can establish if there is indeed a defining characteristic to them aside from the scabbard style.

24th June 2016, 04:08 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,416	Also here is an old example of a Borneo barong from www.mytribalworld.com : Attached Images

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23rd June 2016, 01:19 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,416	I would say yes it is from Borneo, especially based on the larger and thicker scabbard common to that region. There are Moros on Borneo on the province of Sabah. Not too long ago, the Philippine Moros made a claim that Sabah belonged to them (actually they always claimed this in the name of the Sultanate of Sulu). I wish I had the funds for this unusual version.............

23rd June 2016, 01:44 PM	#2
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	What a missed opportunity to own such a rare item then (sigh). Hopefully a forum member got it and would post pictures. Have you seen any similar barungs from Borneo before?

24th June 2016, 04:07 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,416	Yes I have seen pictures of them. Here are some threads addressing this issue: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=borneo+barong http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=borneo+barong

24th June 2016, 05:04 AM	#5
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	I mean ceremonial type barungs made with ivory or even silver hilts from Borneo. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear about that. I guess the scabbard of the ivory barung does clearly show the characteristic Borneo style, albeit in an appropriately more ornate style befitting the high status of the sword. Is it safe to say as well that the silver fittings of the hilt consists of motifs (geometric pattern, cut-outs or openwork on the silver, and thick silver braid) that is characteristic of Borneo origin?

24th June 2016, 03:41 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,416	Ah..........I misunderstood. I have to admit, I have not seen a datu class Borneo barong before. So........perhaps the motifs on this barong may be typical of Borneo datu barongs, although of course one example does not make a pattern. That being said, notice at the top of the pommel where the cut out silver is - that is closer to classic Moro floral motif.

24th June 2016, 09:36 PM	#7
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	Yup, I see what you mean, the stylised vegetal Moro form which is in stark contrast with the more realistic depiction like that of Borneo, Sumatra or even Java. Hopefully more datu class barungs from Borneo will turn up in the future so that we can establish if there is indeed a defining characteristic to them aside from the scabbard style.