A Philippines Spear...But Which Ethnic Group???

[CharlesS]

I bought this lovely spear from Arjan a few weeks ago. He thought it might be Moro, but I do don't think so.

When I saw the central panel's configuration I immediately thought Mandaya, but the panel is too elongated for Mandaya spear blades, and the angles are not as defined as they are in Mandaya examples.

The spear has a carefully laminated head, in thin barely noticeable layers. They do not etch into different colors of gray like me might see on a Moro example. The base of the spearhead is superbly chiseled and fits perfectly on to the pedestal of the spear silver alloy ferrule. The ferrule has a noticeably Indonesian flavor.

The haft is rattan, quite plain, and so I didn't see much of a point of photographing it for this query.

Any ideas which ethnic group may have created this lovely spearhead?

Dimensions:
Overall spear: just short of 7ft.
Spearhead and ferrule: 23in.
Spearhead including chiseled base: 16.5in.
Blade edge: 13.5in.

[kai]

Hello Charles,

Very neat spear, indeed - congrats!

I do agree that it does not look Moro (nor Mandaya). However, positively placing SE Asian spears proves to be a challenge in many cases! Maybe the best approach would be to first try to exclude unlikely origins: I believe we also can exclude all of Java as well as the Dayak cultures from Borneo.

Could you please also post a close-up of the base of the blade in edge-on view?

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

Could it be Moro but from one of the Moro colonies not in the Philippines, like on the Borneo coast for example?

[kai]

Hello Jose,

Could it be Moro but from one of the Moro colonies not in the Philippines, like on the Borneo coast for example?

I'm not sure we have seen examples from all Moro groups throughout the islands, especially hardly any well-provenanced pieces, indeed...

However, what feature of this spear does suggest any kind of Moro origin in your eyes?

Regards,
Kai

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Battara

Could it be Moro but from one of the Moro colonies not in the Philippines, like on the Borneo coast for example?

Perhaps Jose is on to something. We seldom talk about the Brunei Sultanate or other Muslim groups in Borneo. To my eye the blade could indeed be of Moro/Islamic origin. Its quality seems high from Charles' description, and the brass ferrule has been well made and decorated. [Is that horn between the ferrule and blade of the spear?] This spear has a tang, rather than a socket, for fixation and that is consistent with Moro work.

The decoration on the ferrule seems the most likely way of identifying this one. It does not resemble common Moro okir, at least work with which I am familiar, but it seems to conform to the "abstractness" required of Islamic art. Some of the vines and leaves areas remind me a little of Maranao work. Part of the decoration on the ferrule seems to be repoussed, and perhaps that rings a bell for Jose or other members.

The ferrule and decoration are unlike Lumad work that I have seen, but I don't think we can exclude a high end Bagobo or T'boli piece. Both groups use brass on their weapons. The Murat of N. Borneo are also fine craftsmen, and they use brass on some of their their pakuyan hilts, so they may be another possibility. I don't recall seeing examples of Murat spears.

Charles, you have a real knack for finding beautiful and interesting ethnographic weapons! Look forward to hearing where this one actually comes from. Thanks for showing these pictures.

Ian.