Need help with Kris

Battara · 27th June 2021, 04:26 AM

Actually repousse is from the back then front.

But with the close ups I do agree David that this baka-baka is acid etched. As Chopstick_minh said the designs are not deep enough.

On the blade itself, the work is most likely chased with tempered steel tools (though sometimes engraving is done....)

David · 27th June 2021, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Actually repousse is from the back then front.

But with the close ups I do agree David that this baka-baka is acid etched. As Chopstick_minh said the designs are not deep enough.

On the blade itself, the work is most likely chased with tempered steel tools (though sometimes engraving is done....)

Ah yes, you are correct. I confused myself because repossesse and chasing are often used in conjunction with each other. My bad.

David · 28th June 2021, 12:50 AM

José, i would image that this baca-baca would be an example of chasing. This one is suassa.

Battara · 30th June 2021, 02:41 AM

Oh yes David. Nice example. Suassa? - very nice. And looks Maguindanao.

And yes chasing is part of repousse, and some chasing work can look like repousse, so the confusion is quite understandable.

David · 30th June 2021, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Oh yes David. Nice example. Suassa? - very nice. And looks Maguindanao.

And yes chasing is part of repousse, and some chasing work can look like repousse, so the confusion is quite understandable.

Yes, i have been considering it Maguindanao at least as long as i have understood the differences in Moro styles.
To be honest i have never had the metal tested. But this kris has been in my collection longer than any other. It is in fact the very first ethnographic weapon i ever bought and i have had it since 1982. In almost 40 years i have never had to clean any tarnish off this bit of metal and the colour is right for suassa (though not as coppery as some), so i believe it is a fair bet that it contains a reasonable amount of gold content. It is also a rather high end piece and all the other beautifully crafted fitting are high content silver, so suassa would be fitting.

Battara · 3rd July 2021, 04:37 AM

Oh I'm sure it does, as well as a little more silver in it than others based on the hue of the color.

28th June 2021, 12:50 AM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	José, i would image that this baca-baca would be an example of chasing. This one is suassa. Attached Images

27th June 2021, 04:26 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Actually repousse is from the back then front. But with the close ups I do agree David that this baka-baka is acid etched. As Chopstick_minh said the designs are not deep enough. On the blade itself, the work is most likely chased with tempered steel tools (though sometimes engraving is done....)

30th June 2021, 02:41 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Oh yes David. Nice example. Suassa? - very nice. And looks Maguindanao. And yes chasing is part of repousse, and some chasing work can look like repousse, so the confusion is quite understandable.

3rd July 2021, 04:37 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Oh I'm sure it does, as well as a little more silver in it than others based on the hue of the color.