Iron hide! One of a kind iron/ steel moro armor!

Ian · 3rd September 2016, 12:53 PM

estrch:

I am inclined to agree with your age assessment. The holes in the iron plates through which the chain mail is attached show no irregularity in shape as one would expect from corrosion over time--the holes are crisp circles. Also, the mail rings are remarkably uniform and free from corrosion. All this suggests recent manufacture to me.

Ian

Quote:

Originally Posted by estcrh

I think this was recently made, the Philippines is a very humid collection of Islands and just like Japan were they had to lacquer their armor to keep it from rusting away, there is a reason that Moro armor was made from horn and brass, to keep it from rusting away as well. I do not see any corrosion at all. I would not mind being proved wrong but even the seller does not describe it as being an antique. I have many images of these armors on my Pinterest site but none like this one. https://www.pinterest.com/worldantiq...d-surrounding/

drac2k · 3rd September 2016, 02:57 PM

Is it possible that this is an authentic piece that has been heavily cleaned ? I did notice that although the plates are rust free, there is evidence of substantial pitting in places.The brass or copper ornamentation is dual shaded.I have seen heavy chemical cleaning have this same effect on these metals.
I would also assume that if one wanted to create a forgery, it would be easier to bend brass rings rather than steel .
I do acknowledge that making forgeries of Moro armor would certainly be tempting as they are very desirable and can go for hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

ArmsAndAntiques · 3rd September 2016, 03:15 PM

This is an intriguing example I came across some months ago, but Moro not being my an area of particular expertise I wasn't sure if it was truly Moro or not, especially with the iron construction.

estcrh · 4th September 2016, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmsAndAntiques

This is an intriguing example I came across some months ago, but Moro not being my an area of particular expertise I wasn't sure if it was truly Moro or not, especially with the iron construction.

A very interesting, non conforming armor, I have never seen a Moro armor with buckles and inscriptions like that, it shows real wear and age in my opinion. Possible a neighboring Muslim country like Indonesia, Malaysia etc.

Philip · 6th September 2016, 11:32 PM

Looking at Bathala's Moro cuirass again, I'm wondering why some of the plates do look pristine whereas others are visibly pitted. And the pitting not consistent with corrosion, but rather impact-caused, with so many round dimples reminiscent of what a person could inflict using a ball peen hammer with blows of varying intensity. Çan't help but notice, also, that those chain-mail rings look like they were made of machine-drawn wire, way too "industrial" in appearance, and free of wear or any past corrosion. Isn't this a bit incongruous for an ethnographic object made by hand with rudimentary tools, in a damp tropical milieu in which ferrous alloys corrode readily over time?

kronckew · 7th September 2016, 09:52 AM

...and they appear to be butted rings.

biting the bullet to expose the elephant in the room, it looks very new. cool tho.

estcrh · 7th September 2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

...and they appear to be butted rings.

biting the bullet to expose the elephant in the room, it looks very new. cool tho.

Every Moro armor I know of uses butted mail.

3rd September 2016, 03:15 PM	#3
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	This is an intriguing example I came across some months ago, but Moro not being my an area of particular expertise I wasn't sure if it was truly Moro or not, especially with the iron construction. Attached Images

6th September 2016, 11:32 PM	#5
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	observations beg more questions Looking at Bathala's Moro cuirass again, I'm wondering why some of the plates do look pristine whereas others are visibly pitted. And the pitting not consistent with corrosion, but rather impact-caused, with so many round dimples reminiscent of what a person could inflict using a ball peen hammer with blows of varying intensity. Çan't help but notice, also, that those chain-mail rings look like they were made of machine-drawn wire, way too "industrial" in appearance, and free of wear or any past corrosion. Isn't this a bit incongruous for an ethnographic object made by hand with rudimentary tools, in a damp tropical milieu in which ferrous alloys corrode readily over time?

3rd September 2016, 02:57 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Is it possible that this is an authentic piece that has been heavily cleaned ? I did notice that although the plates are rust free, there is evidence of substantial pitting in places.The brass or copper ornamentation is dual shaded.I have seen heavy chemical cleaning have this same effect on these metals. I would also assume that if one wanted to create a forgery, it would be easier to bend brass rings rather than steel . I do acknowledge that making forgeries of Moro armor would certainly be tempting as they are very desirable and can go for hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

7th September 2016, 09:52 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	...and they appear to be butted rings. biting the bullet to expose the elephant in the room, it looks very new. cool tho.