A Nice Gunong to Share

Spunjer · 20th December 2014, 01:19 AM

Thanks!
i might as well make this my gunong thread, lol.

up next is a curious gunong. the handle is ivory, with silver ferrule. scabbard is wood and brass, from the way it looks. didn't want to disturb this one, so i left it as it is.. what's unusual is once i took it off the scabbard, the first thing that came to my mind was, "this ain't no gunong; it's a freakin' butter knife!"
as i was cleaning the blade, something interesting came out of it. first, the lamination pattern which is an unusual pattern for a gunong. and then the silver disc appeared. the disc is more like a plug, since it goes all the way through. my conclusion? the blade was more likely a tip of a sword (most likely a kris) abbreviated to this. pretty neat!
another thing is a piece of info that was taped on the scabbard. it says,"PRESENTED BY THE SULTAN OF DITSAN TO C.M.T., DALAMA, MINDANAO, 1913."
so here's a provenance. if that piece of information is to be believed,what we have here is a dated gunong (1913). not quite the 19th century that was inquired on a previous post, but close.
anyway as far as the provenance: yes, it's possible that it could have been added by anyone, but to pick a particular royal house is interesting (out of 15 or 16 Royal Houses). actually, it's suppose to be the Sultan of Ditsaan (from the principality of Bayabao). as far as who C.M.T. was, well, that's anyone's guess (Certified Massage Therapist?

)...

Battara · 20th December 2014, 04:15 AM

Well it is possible that it was made earlier and given later by that sultan.

Great that it has this provenance!

Interesting that the tip is blunt the way it is.........

Sajen · 20th December 2014, 02:05 PM

Another great and especially unusual gunong.

And great to have it with this provenance!

Regards,
Detlef

Spunjer · 21st December 2014, 03:36 AM

thanks, Detlef!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Well it is possible that it was made earlier and given later by that sultan.

Great that it has this provenance!

Interesting that the tip is blunt the way it is.........

very possible, jose, in that this was made earlier. it's pretty safe to assume then that gunongs were around at the turn of the century. here are two gunongs that were brought over by Webb Hayes in 1900 (given by Datu Piang)

Ferguson · 21st December 2014, 02:22 PM

Spunjer, those are some very beautiful pieces! I love the octagonal (?) scabbard. I've never seen one of those. The hilts are beautiful as well. Thanks for sharing!
Steve

Spunjer · 22nd December 2014, 04:03 AM

Thank you, Ferguson! glad you like them!
now here's another one that's kinda out of the norm. a gunong that's trying to be a kampilan. odd in that it actually has a plug for the hair. i have no idea what it's trying to portray. anyway, the pommel is ivory while the scabbard is bone, toe and throat are brass...

Sajen · 22nd December 2014, 10:33 AM

Hello Ron,

another fine example, never seen one with hair.

Is the ferrule from suassa?

Regards,
Detlef

Spunjer · 23rd December 2014, 12:50 PM

i believe it is, Detlef. just haven't tested it yet.

20th December 2014, 01:19 AM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Thanks! i might as well make this my gunong thread, lol. up next is a curious gunong. the handle is ivory, with silver ferrule. scabbard is wood and brass, from the way it looks. didn't want to disturb this one, so i left it as it is.. what's unusual is once i took it off the scabbard, the first thing that came to my mind was, "this ain't no gunong; it's a freakin' butter knife!" as i was cleaning the blade, something interesting came out of it. first, the lamination pattern which is an unusual pattern for a gunong. and then the silver disc appeared. the disc is more like a plug, since it goes all the way through. my conclusion? the blade was more likely a tip of a sword (most likely a kris) abbreviated to this. pretty neat! another thing is a piece of info that was taped on the scabbard. it says,"PRESENTED BY THE SULTAN OF DITSAN TO C.M.T., DALAMA, MINDANAO, 1913." so here's a provenance. if that piece of information is to be believed,what we have here is a dated gunong (1913). not quite the 19th century that was inquired on a previous post, but close. anyway as far as the provenance: yes, it's possible that it could have been added by anyone, but to pick a particular royal house is interesting (out of 15 or 16 Royal Houses). actually, it's suppose to be the Sultan of Ditsaan (from the principality of Bayabao). as far as who C.M.T. was, well, that's anyone's guess (Certified Massage Therapist? )... Attached Images

22nd December 2014, 04:03 AM	#6
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Thank you, Ferguson! glad you like them! now here's another one that's kinda out of the norm. a gunong that's trying to be a kampilan. odd in that it actually has a plug for the hair. i have no idea what it's trying to portray. anyway, the pommel is ivory while the scabbard is bone, toe and throat are brass... Attached Images

20th December 2014, 04:15 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Well it is possible that it was made earlier and given later by that sultan. Great that it has this provenance! Interesting that the tip is blunt the way it is.........

20th December 2014, 02:05 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Another great and especially unusual gunong. And great to have it with this provenance! Regards, Detlef

21st December 2014, 02:22 PM	#5
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Spunjer, those are some very beautiful pieces! I love the octagonal (?) scabbard. I've never seen one of those. The hilts are beautiful as well. Thanks for sharing! Steve

22nd December 2014, 10:33 AM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Hello Ron, another fine example, never seen one with hair. Is the ferrule from suassa? Regards, Detlef

23rd December 2014, 12:50 PM	#8
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	i believe it is, Detlef. just haven't tested it yet.