Visayan, with T’boli - Moro influence?

kino · 29th April 2018, 06:40 PM

Any thoughts on this sword.
Visayan blade, chisel ground, Visayan scabbard.
Cast hilt (T’boli lost wax method?), Moro style kakatua.
Chromed!!

Spunjer · 29th April 2018, 07:03 PM

wow!
is it chromed, or aluminum?
i'm guessing here.. lots of visayans in Mindanao, so i would say originally a visayan blade and had a T'boli handle attached to it? looks like an older piece based on the patina on the scabbard, so it looks like this was done awhile back; maybe turn of 20th century.
still a pretty cool crossover piece tho!

Sajen · 29th April 2018, 07:53 PM

Hello Albert,

interesting piece but let me add some doubt which come to my mind. It seems that handle and blade both chromed so possible done in the States like some other old/antique blades from the Philippines. So it could be a that a Western has put together what don't belong together. It's for sure a thought that you need to keep in mind.

We just don't know!

Regards,
Detlef

kino · 29th April 2018, 11:49 PM

Spunjer - not aluminum, I can see the brass poking out from the uncovered areas.

Sajen - it could we’ll be a married piece. Yes, we just don’t know..

kahnjar1 · 30th April 2018, 03:49 AM

I am certainly no expert on either Philippines or T'Boli weapons BUT I believe that T'Boli decorate with little bells/ tassles. The up turn of the hilt on this piece has rows of holes which would perhaps suggest that there was some sort of hanging decoration present at some stage.
Stu

CharlesS · 30th April 2018, 04:40 AM

That's one strange 'bird', but fascinating!

kino · 1st May 2018, 01:46 PM

[QUOTE=kahnjar The up turn of the hilt on this piece has rows of holes which would perhaps suggest that there was some sort of hanging decoration present at some stage.
Stu[/QUOTE]

Good eye Stu. You’re correct on this, unfortunately, I would never know if this one the small bells suspended from the hilt.

Ian · 1st May 2018, 05:11 PM

This piece is most likely from Davao City or thereabouts--a major melting pot for Visayan/Lumad/Moro cultural influences. After market treatments may well have occurred in the U.S. A major fraction of the population of Davao City are Visayans.

It is uncommon but not rare to see T'boli hilts on Moro weapons--I have several kris and "kris-like" swords with T'boli hilts and scabbards. Similarly, Bagobo hilts on Moro weapons are also found with some frequency, especially coming through Davao City and neighboring areas.

The topic of this thread appears to be T'boli/Visayan to me, and I don't see much Moro influence apart from the kakatua hilt which is T'boli in origin and well made (many of these hilts were carved in wax by women). It might well be a custom-made piece. I doubt that it is older than mid-20th C.--most of these cross-cultural pieces made for commercial purposes seem to have been produced post-WWII.

Ian.

BTW, Diltiazem is used for treating hypertension and heart problems

29th April 2018, 06:40 PM	#1
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,002	Visayan, with T’boli - Moro influence? Any thoughts on this sword. Visayan blade, chisel ground, Visayan scabbard. Cast hilt (T’boli lost wax method?), Moro style kakatua. Chromed!! Attached Images

29th April 2018, 07:53 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Albert, interesting piece but let me add some doubt which come to my mind. It seems that handle and blade both chromed so possible done in the States like some other old/antique blades from the Philippines. So it could be a that a Western has put together what don't belong together. It's for sure a thought that you need to keep in mind. We just don't know! Regards, Detlef Last edited by Sajen; 29th April 2018 at 11:47 PM.

1st May 2018, 05:11 PM	#8
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	This piece is most likely from Davao City or thereabouts--a major melting pot for Visayan/Lumad/Moro cultural influences. After market treatments may well have occurred in the U.S. A major fraction of the population of Davao City are Visayans. It is uncommon but not rare to see T'boli hilts on Moro weapons--I have several kris and "kris-like" swords with T'boli hilts and scabbards. Similarly, Bagobo hilts on Moro weapons are also found with some frequency, especially coming through Davao City and neighboring areas. The topic of this thread appears to be T'boli/Visayan to me, and I don't see much Moro influence apart from the kakatua hilt which is T'boli in origin and well made (many of these hilts were carved in wax by women). It might well be a custom-made piece. I doubt that it is older than mid-20th C.--most of these cross-cultural pieces made for commercial purposes seem to have been produced post-WWII. Ian. BTW, Diltiazem is used for treating hypertension and heart problems Last edited by Ian; 1st May 2018 at 07:13 PM. Reason: Additional comments

29th April 2018, 07:03 PM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	wow! is it chromed, or aluminum? i'm guessing here.. lots of visayans in Mindanao, so i would say originally a visayan blade and had a T'boli handle attached to it? looks like an older piece based on the patina on the scabbard, so it looks like this was done awhile back; maybe turn of 20th century. still a pretty cool crossover piece tho!

29th April 2018, 11:49 PM	#4
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,002	Spunjer - not aluminum, I can see the brass poking out from the uncovered areas. Sajen - it could we’ll be a married piece. Yes, we just don’t know..

30th April 2018, 03:49 AM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	I am certainly no expert on either Philippines or T'Boli weapons BUT I believe that T'Boli decorate with little bells/ tassles. The up turn of the hilt on this piece has rows of holes which would perhaps suggest that there was some sort of hanging decoration present at some stage. Stu

30th April 2018, 04:40 AM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	That's one strange 'bird', but fascinating!

1st May 2018, 01:46 PM	#7
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,002	[QUOTE=kahnjar The up turn of the hilt on this piece has rows of holes which would perhaps suggest that there was some sort of hanging decoration present at some stage. Stu[/QUOTE] Good eye Stu. You’re correct on this, unfortunately, I would never know if this one the small bells suspended from the hilt.