Early barong beauty

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Robert

Hello Detlef, Sorry to hear you were not able add this very nice piece to your collection. Looking at the photos, the hilt looks like it would to be able to accommodate the hand of a grown man. I'm just thinking out loud now, but could it be that these small examples were made to be used as a companion piece to a full sized barong and used in the same manner as a dagger would be used in conjunction with a sword, a practice that might have been picked up from the Spanish?

Best,
Robert

A good question. I have been informed by the Filipino community that the "espada y data" method to which you are referring is a Spanish influence in Luzon and the Visayas, but not in the southern Philippines. Even they did have swords and daggers, they did not use this method of combat.

They barony may very well be a dress piece, since they had both ones for dress and ones for everyday wear.