Unusual Visayan features?

VANDOO · 17th September 2012, 06:47 AM

ITS LIKELY BEETLE WING COVERS FROM A BEETLE IN THE FAMILY BUPRESTIDAE. THESE COLORFUL METALIC BEETLES ARE USED BY TRIBES IN MANY AREAS OF THE WORLD FOR DECORATION AND JEWELRY. HERE IS A PICTURE OF A SPECIES FROM BORNEO, I COULDN'T FIND A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE FROM THE PHILIPPINES. NOTE ONE WING COVER REMOVED.

asomotif · 17th September 2012, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

ITS LIKELY BEETLE WING COVERS FROM A BEETLE IN THE FAMILY BUPRESTIDAE. THESE COLORFUL METALIC BEETLES ARE USED BY TRIBES IN MANY AREAS OF THE WORLD FOR DECORATION AND JEWELRY. HERE IS A PICTURE OF A SPECIES FROM BORNEO, I COULDN'T FIND A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE FROM THE PHILIPPINES. NOTE ONE WING COVER REMOVED.

I have seen a mandau once with a piece of beetle wing cover under a rattan winding. I think it must be pure decoration. I can not recall that beetles have some spiritual meaning

Nice piece BTW

Best regards,
Willem

VVV · 17th September 2012, 07:46 AM

It seems as Kai found the answer for the twine and Barry found the family of beetles.
When I use a loupe the wings on the scabbard have the same kind of dented surface as on your picture.
Ron, I was also thinking about the wrapping of the barong handles when I first saw it.

Michael

Dimasalang · 19th September 2012, 08:36 PM

I'd like to add one more thing here:
That sword is AWESOME!

That is all.

migueldiaz · 20th September 2012, 08:05 AM

Saw this thread just now.

Wow, nice one Michael! Skål!

I have yet to figure out whether there's a special name for these 'bat'-pommeled Visayan swords. And I'm also still finding out whether parts of Luzon adjacent to the Visayas also used this sword (because some of these swords are not chisel-ground as we all know, like my example below).

My only input is that the pattern of the cord binding on the hilt is similar to the carving on my similar sword. Thus it sure looks that Michael's example is the older one. And my example would then be a latter less ornate version, and in which hilt the style of the cord binding was mimicked.

Very nice example indeed!

PS - As for the interpretation of the carving on the scabbard, I'm preparing another thread (Southeast Asian sword symbolism), based on what I gathered in those European museums I've been to recently. Hope it'll shed some light on the matter. Thanks.

VVV · 20th September 2012, 04:14 PM

Thanks Lorenz,

Nice to see your sword and the similar pattern on the handle.
I look forward to read your coming thread with some of the results from your study tour.

Skål to you too

Michael

migueldiaz · 21st September 2012, 06:16 AM

Thanks too, Michael.

And yes, will surely post that new thread very soon ... the only problem is, the A Very Old Kris thread is distracting me!

Bangkaya · 10th October 2012, 05:36 AM

Hello,
This is an Akeanon talibung with a linamay type blade, not an Ilonggo tenegre. The type of bakunawa pommel with the shorter nose and longer "eye stems" and "ears" sets it apart from other Akeanon talibungs with the typical elongated nose or folded nose variety. Generally, these more "bat-like" features are found from the panday clans that more coastal such as in Makato, Ibajay, and Tangalan. The long nose or folded nose variety are more of a highland variety usually associated with the sword making traditions of Malinao, Libacao and Balete. It is interesting to not that the the original poster's talibung has a symmetrical round guard, whereas most of these "bat-like" bakunawa hilt talibungs (such as Spunger's) have asymmetrical guards more similar to the sanduko of Capiz.

As for the beetle wing decoration, it is said that this particular beetle has certain anting-anting qualities. Yet it is also said that the number of beetle wings also marks the number of times the talibung has been used.

Regards,
Bangkaya

17th September 2012, 06:47 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	ITS LIKELY BEETLE WING COVERS FROM A BEETLE IN THE FAMILY BUPRESTIDAE. THESE COLORFUL METALIC BEETLES ARE USED BY TRIBES IN MANY AREAS OF THE WORLD FOR DECORATION AND JEWELRY. HERE IS A PICTURE OF A SPECIES FROM BORNEO, I COULDN'T FIND A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE FROM THE PHILIPPINES. NOTE ONE WING COVER REMOVED. Attached Images

20th September 2012, 08:05 AM	#5
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Saw this thread just now. Wow, nice one Michael! Skål! I have yet to figure out whether there's a special name for these 'bat'-pommeled Visayan swords. And I'm also still finding out whether parts of Luzon adjacent to the Visayas also used this sword (because some of these swords are not chisel-ground as we all know, like my example below). My only input is that the pattern of the cord binding on the hilt is similar to the carving on my similar sword. Thus it sure looks that Michael's example is the older one. And my example would then be a latter less ornate version, and in which hilt the style of the cord binding was mimicked. Very nice example indeed! PS - As for the interpretation of the carving on the scabbard, I'm preparing another thread (Southeast Asian sword symbolism), based on what I gathered in those European museums I've been to recently. Hope it'll shed some light on the matter. Thanks. Attached Images

17th September 2012, 07:46 AM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	It seems as Kai found the answer for the twine and Barry found the family of beetles. When I use a loupe the wings on the scabbard have the same kind of dented surface as on your picture. Ron, I was also thinking about the wrapping of the barong handles when I first saw it. Michael

19th September 2012, 08:36 PM	#4
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	I'd like to add one more thing here: That sword is AWESOME! That is all.

20th September 2012, 04:14 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Lorenz, Nice to see your sword and the similar pattern on the handle. I look forward to read your coming thread with some of the results from your study tour. Skål to you too Michael

21st September 2012, 06:16 AM	#7
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Thanks too, Michael. And yes, will surely post that new thread very soon ... the only problem is, the A Very Old Kris thread is distracting me!

10th October 2012, 05:36 AM	#8
Bangkaya Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 38	Hello, This is an Akeanon talibung with a linamay type blade, not an Ilonggo tenegre. The type of bakunawa pommel with the shorter nose and longer "eye stems" and "ears" sets it apart from other Akeanon talibungs with the typical elongated nose or folded nose variety. Generally, these more "bat-like" features are found from the panday clans that more coastal such as in Makato, Ibajay, and Tangalan. The long nose or folded nose variety are more of a highland variety usually associated with the sword making traditions of Malinao, Libacao and Balete. It is interesting to not that the the original poster's talibung has a symmetrical round guard, whereas most of these "bat-like" bakunawa hilt talibungs (such as Spunger's) have asymmetrical guards more similar to the sanduko of Capiz. As for the beetle wing decoration, it is said that this particular beetle has certain anting-anting qualities. Yet it is also said that the number of beetle wings also marks the number of times the talibung has been used. Regards, Bangkaya