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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 57
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I imagine Philippine collectors would be drooling over this. I heard that dipalata of Aeta people is supposedly the rarest Philippine traditional blade.
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#2 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,270
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It is very rare, never mind having the scabbard with it.
I know of a family in the Philippines of a famous PI general at the turn of the century. The sword with their family name on it was offered to 12 of his officers (so only 12 made). They loaned it to a local museum who later sold it to a private collector without their consent. I also have one of these, acquired before this incident. Antiques Road Show told me it is a national treasure but DO NOT repatriate it - it will only go in the front door and out the back. So I agree with Ian. For now don't repatriate it unless you know the Filipino collector over there.......and perhaps even then............. |
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#3 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,360
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Yes, one of the rarest traditional Filipino blades. The Aeta are not a very large ethnic group, so their traditional swords do not come on to the market very often. The dipalata is uncommon among the Aeta, and rarely comes up for sale.
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,018
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This one was auctioned off today.
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#5 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,360
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kino,
What a coincidence! A similar scabbard also. Would you mind posting a link to the auction page. I think Gallo77 has had his example for several years. Ian. |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,018
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Czerny’s auction. Dec. 12th.
There was a notable knife from Luzon that had a beautifully carved hilt in the same auction. |
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#7 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 670
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Anyway, to get back to the topic at hand- I believe "dipalata" may be an assembled/hybrid blade; the Aeta from Central Luzon, particularly Zambales, have been documented to buy or commission blades from pandays in lowland areas (especially Apalit, Pampanga). Afterwards, they may have dressed up these blades according to their tribe's aesthetic traditions. I'll try to look into it in the future, and find more evidence to substantiate my theory. |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,114
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Truthfully,... and sadly, some or even many western museums have a "lost in transit" problem. Some of them of the highest repute!
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#9 | |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,360
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