African Visayan sword!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Battara

It is a tenegre by the looks of the hilt. It is Visayan, perhaps from Panay.

My question for the Visayan experts: is this an early form of hilt?

Would agree with you that it is a tenegre but the last thread from Ron let becone me doubtful. Hope that Bangkaya will give his thoughts about this sword.

Regards,

Detlef

[VANDOO]

A VERY INTERESTING PHILIPPINE SWORD. IT MAY HAVE HAD BEAD EYES SECURED BY A NAIL JUDGING FROM THE DEPTH AND SHAPE OF THE EYE SOCKETS. LIKELY REPRESENTS A MONKEY OR MAN HARD TO TELL ESPECIALLY WITH THE NOSE MISSING. THE LEATHER WORK LOOKS LIKE THAT DONE DURING THE TIME THE SPANISH WERE THERE BUT THE SKILL WAS STILL PRESENT WHEN THE AMERICANS ARRIVED. BLADE SHAPE COULD ALSO BE FROM SPANISH INFLUENCE. A VERY NICE ONE.

[Battara]

Actually I was thinking it would traditionally have ivory or bone eye inserts.

[Robert]

Hello Detlef, and congratulations on your new acquisition. I have seen this style of blade before on older as well as later pieces dating up to WWII. Your example though I believe would date to the early twentieth century. I base this mostly on the styling and detailed tooling on the leather scabbard which you do not normally see on the later pieces. I agree with Jose that the eyes were more than likely made of bone held in place by small nails, one of which can still be seen in the eye socket in the close-up of the face carving. The face itself to me does have the appearance of that of a monkey and the missing nose was probably short with flared nostrils. This is just MHO though and I will be most interested in hearing more from the experts on this very interesting item. Again, my congratulations on a great score.

Regards,
Robert

P.S.
I cannot believe I missed this one.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Robert Coleman

Hello Detlef, and congratulations on your new acquisition. I have seen this style of blade before on older as well as later pieces dating up to WWII. Your example though I believe would date to the early twentieth century. I base this mostly on the styling and detailed tooling on the leather scabbard which you do not normally see on the later pieces. I agree with Jose that the eyes were more than likely made of bone held in place by small nails, one of which can still be seen in the eye socket in the close-up of the face carving. The face itself to me does have the appearance of that of a monkey and the missing nose was probably short with flared nostrils. This is just MHO though and I will be most interested in hearing more from the experts on this very interesting item. Again, my congratulations on a great score.

Regards,
Robert
P.S.
I cannot believe I missed this one.

Thank you as well Robert! Hope you are correct by your dating. I think I have had good luck since it was listed not long before and the price let me not long think about.

Regards,

Detlef

[carlos]

Congratulations !! I´m happy to see you were the winner, I saw auction and I made an offer, sometime ago I had bought it directly, but with the actual economic situation ...
I hope you enjoy sword !!

best regards
carlos

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by carlos

Congratulations !! I´m happy to see you were the winner, I saw auction and I made an offer, sometime ago I had bought it directly, but with the actual economic situation ...
I hope you enjoy sword !!

best regards
carlos

Hello Carlos,

thank you and sorry!! Have thought already that the offer was given from a forum member. It wasn't my plan to buy a second item at the same evening (see my other new thread) but this sword attracted my eyes and the seller offered free shipping and I see an offer already....

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

A VERY INTERESTING PHILIPPINE SWORD. IT MAY HAVE HAD BEAD EYES SECURED BY A NAIL JUDGING FROM THE DEPTH AND SHAPE OF THE EYE SOCKETS. LIKELY REPRESENTS A MONKEY OR MAN HARD TO TELL ESPECIALLY WITH THE NOSE MISSING. THE LEATHER WORK LOOKS LIKE THAT DONE DURING THE TIME THE SPANISH WERE THERE BUT THE SKILL WAS STILL PRESENT WHEN THE AMERICANS ARRIVED. BLADE SHAPE COULD ALSO BE FROM SPANISH INFLUENCE. A VERY NICE ONE.

Hello Barry,

thank you very much. I direct have had a good feel when I see the pictures and was sure that I don't make a mistake by this price. I special was attracted by the good patina from the handle. But I am with Jose and Robert that the eye inlays have been from ivory or bone or maybe from metal (silver or brass).

Regards,

Detlef