Nice Barong ended on eBay.

Dimasalang · 9th March 2009, 11:29 PM

Wow I didn't think a barong could command this price($1990). I believe the former owner is also a member here...sorry for posting up your auction, I just think thats awesome. Not awesome that I can not afford one now, but awesome that these weapons are finally getting recognized as high quality fine pieces of art and people are willing to pay for it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380107815400

KuKulzA28 · 9th March 2009, 11:50 PM

Well I guess it means it is growing to be a highly appreciated object (which is good), which also means fewer and fewer people can see, hold, and appreciate them as they get expensive (which is not so good). European, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and now Moro articfacts are getting expensive. Oftentimes African artifacts are not as much, and there is also less hype about them. A Fijian warclub will probably sell for more than a Zulu knobkerrie or an Iroquois ball-headed warclub.
So it has it's good and bad, the higher number of cheap antiques there are, the more people can appreciate them (but also more will "ruin" them). The more expensive these antiques are... then they are more likely to end up in museums or the large private collections of those who can afford them. That means they'll be appreciated and cared for... but means most people won't ever have the same pleasure. I don't know what's better... do you?

What's the point of keeping a nation's heritage in a display case (rather than in it's homeland), if the information isn't going to be shared? But of course, many people "abused" antiques, so that can be debatable.

Hopefully the original owner (Datu's family?) was more than compensated for the barong... but I doubt it

kino · 10th March 2009, 12:22 AM

For something that had a broken kakatua it sure went for a lot.
It might have been a bidding war, I didn't follow it.

Quote:

Hopefully the original owner (Datu's family?) was more than compensated for the barong... but I doubt it

No chance. The barung was probably brought back at the turn of century. War booty.

KuKulzA28 · 10th March 2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kino

No chance. The barung was probably brought back at the turn of century. War booty.

No doubt, that's how most ethnographic antiques found their way to the West

Bill M · 10th March 2009, 06:25 AM

More than I would have paid for it.

asomotif · 10th March 2009, 01:45 PM

Very nice barong.

Lovely inlay, but No way I would pay such an amount for a damaged piece without scabbard.
Somebody (or probably a few people) must really have wanted this one.

a remark on kukulza's comments :

Quote:

Oftentimes African artifacts are not as much, and there is also less hype about them

For African weapons you are probably right.
But African ethnographic items are sold for big $$$.$$$ at autions in Europe.
And than I really mean 100.000's USD

KuKulzA28 · 10th March 2009, 06:38 PM

ah I did some research and you're right... African objects in general quite a bit.. but their weaponry, not so much. Like Bill said I wouldn't have paid that much for the barong, but then again I am not a collector of antiques (not that I can afford it), I'm just an appreciator.

Tim Simmons · 10th March 2009, 08:16 PM

Nuts!!!!

David · 10th March 2009, 09:41 PM

Yeah, interesting auction result considering these times of recession. This was a very nice barong once, but considering the damage and the lack of a sheath this figure is way over the top. I don't believe it is a good indicator of where the current market stands.

9th March 2009, 11:29 PM	#1
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Nice Barong ended on eBay. Wow I didn't think a barong could command this price($1990). I believe the former owner is also a member here...sorry for posting up your auction, I just think thats awesome. Not awesome that I can not afford one now, but awesome that these weapons are finally getting recognized as high quality fine pieces of art and people are willing to pay for it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380107815400

9th March 2009, 11:50 PM	#2
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Well I guess it means it is growing to be a highly appreciated object (which is good), which also means fewer and fewer people can see, hold, and appreciate them as they get expensive (which is not so good). European, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and now Moro articfacts are getting expensive. Oftentimes African artifacts are not as much, and there is also less hype about them. A Fijian warclub will probably sell for more than a Zulu knobkerrie or an Iroquois ball-headed warclub. So it has it's good and bad, the higher number of cheap antiques there are, the more people can appreciate them (but also more will "ruin" them). The more expensive these antiques are... then they are more likely to end up in museums or the large private collections of those who can afford them. That means they'll be appreciated and cared for... but means most people won't ever have the same pleasure. I don't know what's better... do you? What's the point of keeping a nation's heritage in a display case (rather than in it's homeland), if the information isn't going to be shared? But of course, many people "abused" antiques, so that can be debatable. Hopefully the original owner (Datu's family?) was more than compensated for the barong... but I doubt it

10th March 2009, 06:25 AM	#5
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	More than I would have paid for it.

10th March 2009, 06:38 PM	#7
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	ah I did some research and you're right... African objects in general quite a bit.. but their weaponry, not so much. Like Bill said I wouldn't have paid that much for the barong, but then again I am not a collector of antiques (not that I can afford it), I'm just an appreciator.

10th March 2009, 08:16 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Nuts!!!!

10th March 2009, 09:41 PM	#9
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,120	Yeah, interesting auction result considering these times of recession. This was a very nice barong once, but considering the damage and the lack of a sheath this figure is way over the top. I don't believe it is a good indicator of where the current market stands.