Battered Datu Kris for comment - restoration tips needed

Battara · 25th September 2005, 08:36 PM

Federico has a very good point on the over etching. Light etching to bring out pamor is fine and won't really affect the inlay. Over etching in the way he describes is for Javanese pieces, etc., and will pop out the inlay (thus I have not seen much in true inlay in Javanese pieces).

Will try to post a Maguindanao datu hilt when I get the chance. A typical Maguindanao hilt might consist of okir bands, top and bottom, and possibly interspaced between wrapped twisted woven bands of silver. Okir bands in this case may mean gold over copper/brass or silver.

kai · 26th September 2005, 02:10 PM

Thanks, Battara!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Federico has a very good point on the over etching. Light etching to bring out pamor is fine and won't really affect the inlay. Over etching in the way he describes is for Javanese pieces, etc., and will pop out the inlay (thus I have not seen much in true inlay in Javanese pieces).

Sure. I'm more a keris Melayu guy and like to keep a slick looking blade...

Quote:

Will try to post a Maguindanao datu hilt when I get the chance. A typical Maguindanao hilt might consist of okir bands, top and bottom, and possibly interspaced between wrapped twisted woven bands of silver. Okir bands in this case may mean gold over copper/brass or silver.

To keep in line with Moro machismo, I'd probably settle for swaasa rather than gold.

I'm looking forward to seeing more Maguindanao datu hilts!

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 26th September 2005, 08:12 PM

As promised, here is a Maguindanao kris I have that is closest to yours. The hilt has an ivory pommel, the bands are of okired swaasa over copper and braided twisted silver. The bottom band is silver.

Enjoy!

PS. (I also do installment plans

).

kai · 28th September 2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

As promised, here is a Maguindanao kris I have that is closest to yours. The hilt has an ivory pommel, the bands are of okired swaasa over copper and braided twisted silver. The bottom band is silver.

Thanks, Battara - that's a really nice hilt! How old is it approximately? Are those 2 central swaasa bands hexagonal?

Quote:

PS. (I also do installment plans

).

Well, that's more difficult to cover up though...

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 29th September 2005, 07:09 AM

Thanks. I'm pleased.

The age of this puppy is I would guess around 1890s. The orange swaasa bands are round, they look hexoganal...well...because I used the poor man's camera - the church scanner.

kai · 2nd October 2005, 03:45 PM

Here's a link to a somewhat similar example: http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1804

However, the inlay just reaches into the fuller (which is also less wide), whereas the fuller extends more towards the base in my blade so that the inlay is completely within the fuller.

BTW, isn't Artzi's dating a bit early for his piece?

Regards,
Kai

26th September 2005, 08:12 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	As promised, here is a Maguindanao kris I have that is closest to yours. The hilt has an ivory pommel, the bands are of okired swaasa over copper and braided twisted silver. The bottom band is silver. Enjoy! PS. (I also do installment plans ). Attached Images

25th September 2005, 08:36 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Federico has a very good point on the over etching. Light etching to bring out pamor is fine and won't really affect the inlay. Over etching in the way he describes is for Javanese pieces, etc., and will pop out the inlay (thus I have not seen much in true inlay in Javanese pieces). Will try to post a Maguindanao datu hilt when I get the chance. A typical Maguindanao hilt might consist of okir bands, top and bottom, and possibly interspaced between wrapped twisted woven bands of silver. Okir bands in this case may mean gold over copper/brass or silver.

29th September 2005, 07:09 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Thanks. I'm pleased. The age of this puppy is I would guess around 1890s. The orange swaasa bands are round, they look hexoganal...well...because I used the poor man's camera - the church scanner.

2nd October 2005, 03:45 PM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Here's a link to a somewhat similar example: http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1804 However, the inlay just reaches into the fuller (which is also less wide), whereas the fuller extends more towards the base in my blade so that the inlay is completely within the fuller. BTW, isn't Artzi's dating a bit early for his piece? Regards, Kai