Kris with silver inlaid blade
 

A very nice Kris that's in the custody of Lonna and Dave.

Very surprised that every single bit of inlay is Intact. Nothing missing.
Also the ivory hilt looks a lot like a miniature jungayyan. Never seen one with
characteristics of both danganan and jungayyan. What do you think....Dave.

A VERY ATTRACTIVE KRIS :) IT HAS A LOT MORE INLAY THAN I HAVE SEEN ON A KRIS BLADE THE ONLY OTHER BLADES WITH LOTS OF INLAY OF THAT SORT ARE ON SWORDS FROM BORNEO. I WONDER IF THE MAKER WAS INFLUENCED BY WEAPONS FROM BORNEO? THE IVORY IS INTERESTING I CAN'T TELL IF IT IS ELEPHANT OR VERY LARGE WHALE OR HIPPO. MOST LIKELY ELEPHANT BUT ITS POSSIBLE IT COULD BE ONE OF THE OTHER TWO.

I agree Dave it is any unusual type of pommel.

All the silver dots are intact though I am a little surprised that the other engravings were not filled in with inlay also. Style preferences I suppose.

Thanks Kino for posting these nice pieces from Dave and Lona. Great research.

The smaller size of the blade seems to indicate a sulu piece, but the handle
looks like it has some Mindanao characteristics. I can't quite exactly place
this one...........Dave.

Jose: I was a little surprised too, that they would bother to cut all those
grooves and not fill them in. Probably couldn't afford any more silver.... Dave

Jose: Yes, it is surprising that they would go the trouble to cut all those
grooves and then not to fill them in. Probably couldn't afford any more
silver.......Dave.

Sorry, double post....Dave

Hello Barry,

it is definitively not hippo, there are no black dots in a line, the clear indicator for hippo ivory.
BTW, very nice kris! :)

Regards,

Detlef

Oh I agree this is from elephant ivory on the pommel. I would suggest that the blade might be Maguidanao, but the hilt rings - not too sure. Since they are not woven I would not say Sulu.

Nice kris

Impressing with that many talismanic symbols along the whole length of the blade!
And obviously a very nice kris too.
Thanks for sharing.

Michael

Hello Dave and Lonna,

Congrats, another sweet piece!

Dimensions, please?


The dots are very solid and unlikely to get lost compared to smaller inlay work. There seems to be quite a bit of wear on the engraved lines and I'd posit that these were once filled with silver too. If not it was certainly not a cost issue considering the amount of silver spent on the dots. Could you please verify wether the dots are drilled through the blade or are there distinct differences in their placement on both sides?

The hilt is special, indeed. I'd go for danganan - possibly Maguindanao with junggayan-like influences from Sulu if going out on a limb...

Regards,
Kai

Kai that would certainly fit with the blade that I believe is Maguindanao. Besides the pommel, what makes you think the hilt is Maguindanao in your opinion?

Kai: As far as i can tell, i think most of the dots are in line. Up near the tip
a few might not be quite in line. hard to tell. The blade is 20 inches long.
The pommel is four inches from crest to beak and not quite 2 inches long.
It does indeed look like a cross between jungayyan and danganan.
About equal influence i would say.........Dave.

Jose: The pommel is definitely elephant ivory.. I have a barong with walrus
ivory that i will be posting soon. You will be able to very clearly see the
differences between the two kinds......Dave.

Oh I know the differences between the ivories and I agree that this is elephant.

But I never saw a walrus ivory barong........hope you post it soon.. :D