New pieces from the collection of General Shockley

[SanibelSwassa]

New additions from the collection of General M.A.W. Shockley!!

Enjoy!!

[SanibelSwassa]

By visiting the auction house I was able to obtain direct photographic evidence.

[Tim Simmons]

Gosh they are nice. Did you or was there any issues about the ivory? I am sure others would be interested to know.

[kino]

What a haul. Congrats.
Where’s the Kris with the Garuda(?) hilt.
He must’ve placed those ray skins on the handles.

[Battara]

Congratulations. I saw that auction, but no money to bid. I love not only the krises but also the Tagalog piece with the carved horn and horn/silver scabbard (I was going to go for that one :().

Also great to have provenance! :)

Would you be able to post the weapons pictures individually here?

[David]

Gosh they are nice. Did you or was there any issues about the ivory? I am sure others would be interested to know.
I assume this auction took place in the USA and it seems that this portion of the collection has remained there. Generally these issues don't arise unless the items in question are crossing international borders.

[David]

Brilliant additions to any collection. Congratulations!

[carlos]

Congratulations!!! Great collection, the horn and silver bolo is ::eek: !!!!
Thanks for sharing
Carlos

[Gavin Nugent]

Congratulations!

I got the one I wanted, you pushed me far with it though... you'll know the one... if your research reveals its actual origins, please do write to me.

With thanks

Gavin

[SanibelSwassa]

Congratulations!

I got the one I wanted, you pushed me far with it though... you'll know the one... if your research reveals its actual origins, please do write to me.

With thanks

Gavin

Gavin,

Next time we should talk first!!! I was able to see your Garuda in person and it is magnificent! I believe the back portion of the hilt is solid cast metal. It has the serious potential to be gold!!! There’s no tarnish on the cast portion and it doesn’t appear to have been cleaned. I think you will be very happy!! You also have direct providence on the Kris!! See these pictures.

Ron will also be very happy with the axe!!! I should have looked at that piece more closely… it’s seriously special also.

[SanibelSwassa]

Congratulations. I saw that auction, but no money to bid. I love not only the krises but also the Tagalog piece with the carved horn and horn/silver scabbard (I was going to go for that one :().

Also great to have provenance! :)

Would you be able to post the weapons pictures individually here?

Yes will post individual pics of the pieces once I get them cleaned up a bit.

[SanibelSwassa]

Congratulations!!! Great collection, the horn and silver bolo is ::eek: !!!!
Thanks for sharing
Carlos

It is my fist Luzon piece and is the most ornate piece I’ve seen and in incredible shape. The carving on the scabbard is so next level… I honestly don’t know how that could be done.

[SanibelSwassa]

Gosh they are nice. Did you or was there any issues about the ivory? I am sure others would be interested to know.

Tim,

Intra-State on pieces this old there aren’t any issues where I live. DO NOT attempt anything like this with international purchases!! I recently had piece go through that process from Italy and it took several months… none where Ivory and it was still a really difficult process and cost significantly more to get the items to the US.

Hope that helps!!

[Gavin Nugent]

Gavin,

Next time we should talk first!!! I was able to see your Garuda in person and it is magnificent! I believe the back portion of the hilt is solid cast metal. It has the serious potential to be gold!!! There’s no tarnish on the cast portion and it doesn’t appear to have been cleaned. I think you will be very happy!! You also have direct providence on the Kris!! See these pictures.

Ron will also be very happy with the axe!!! I should have looked at that piece more closely… it’s seriously special also.

Happy I was, happier I am now with your insights, thank you! This is indeed good news and as I thought it had potential to be too...Sultan level potential.

[Rafngard]

Am I mad, or am I seeing sharkskin on the hilts of some of those kris?

[Gavin Nugent]

Am I mad, or am I seeing sharkskin on the hilts of some of those kris?

Ray skin I suspect... perhaps considered more durable that resin coated cord when at sea and that ray skin offered a very positive non slip grip in the hand when wet... could simply be intended for a practical nature... :shrug:

[Tim Simmons]

I ask about the Ivory as most if not all auction rooms in the UK will not deal with ivory items and I thought that was spreading internationally. Glad you had no problem.

[milandro]

I ask about the Ivory as most if not all auction rooms in the UK will not deal with ivory items and I thought that was spreading internationally. Glad you had no problem.

Between EU UK and the rest of the world Ivory trade is as good as practically dead from last year it is really only possible to sell to museums


read what I wrote here

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23029

Within the US 3 states have signed a similar act banning trade across state lines.

[SanibelSwassa]

Am I mad, or am I seeing sharkskin on the hilts of some of those kris?

Three of them are definitely Ray skin. They appear to have been ray skin in the pics also… but may not have been that way originally.

[Sajen]

Stunning! Congrats for your new acquisitions.:)

[Gavin Nugent]

Poor quality image, but an example of the Bolo type from the collection. Met Museum.

[SanibelSwassa]

Poor quality image, but an example of the Bolo type from the collection. Met Museum.

Just finished a first round of basic clean up.

[SanibelSwassa]

Second clean up completed… might need some translation assistance.

[Battara]

Great clean up! Great twist core! Never seen Jawi on the baka-baka before, nor have I seen hilt bands like that! Silver and swassa - VERY nice. :D

[Gavin Nugent]

Great clean up! Great twist core! Never seen Jawi on the baka-baka before, nor have I seen hilt bands like that! Silver and swassa - VERY nice. :D

Battara, is it the combination or materials of the design/assembly of the silver/swassa you have not seen before?

[Battara]

Oh I've seen and made swassa bands before. But the patterns on the swassa bands and their style - no.

[SanibelSwassa]

Another kris fresh from basic clean up!! The Ray skin wrap appears to have been a later addition after the kris was collected. It is solid and feels good in the hand… still very tight. The twist core is visible but not deeply etched. There are marks on one of the baca that may be decorative or talismanic.

Enjoy!!

SS

[werecow]

I'm curious about the length of the large sundang. Also would like your cleaning superpowers.

[Gavin Nugent]

Oh I've seen and made swassa bands before. But the patterns on the swassa bands and their style - no.

That's what I thought.

The closest I've seen to that motif in swassa is arrangements of 3 half moons to make the triangle shape, not yet the V shape with circle in the center...

[SanibelSwassa]

That's what I thought.

The closest I've seen to that motif in swassa is arrangements of 3 half moons to make the triangle shape, not yet the V shape with circle in the center...

I will get you a better pic as the motif is impressive and varied in the hilt stack… all of which are still tight and true.

[SanibelSwassa]

I'm curious about the length of the large sundang. Also would like your cleaning superpowers.

Pic from the auction.

[SanibelSwassa]

Clean up #4

Will need to work on the blade a little more and do a better etch but good enough for the 1st pass.

Enjoy!!

[SanibelSwassa]

That's what I thought.

The closest I've seen to that motif in swassa is arrangements of 3 half moons to make the triangle shape, not yet the V shape with circle in the center...

Closeups of the hilt and motif.

[Gavin Nugent]

Visayan motifs?

https://www.aswangproject.com/beautiful-history-symbolism-philippine-tattoo-culture/

[Battara]

Actually the triangles are a common motif - stylized bamboo spouts - and they are used in the Morolands and in parts of Indonesia. They are also used by other Philippine tribes, especially like the Bagobo.

[Battara]

I wonder if the rings are in Bagobo style and Bagobo made. Mixes like this are not unheard of. Or this is a form of Sulu okir. Maranao usually don't use this form as much. Maguindanao use this with other ingredients. This after thinking about it some more.

BTW - the way the silver wire bands are made, they could be Sulu or Maguindanao.

[Gavin Nugent]

Actually the triangles are a common motif - stylized bamboo spouts - and they are used in the Morolands and in parts of Indonesia. They are also used by other Philippine tribes, especially like the Bagobo.

Nice to know, thanks. What's the symbolism behind it?

The bamboo sprouts is an interesting theme that also runs in to weapons of chiseled steel spears and goads in Thailand and the surrounds too, they are manufactured to resemble this.