19th century Philippine Halberd from Spanish Colonial Guard

[Battara]

Sadly David, you have a good point.

[mdp10003]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on museum collections. I do believe there is merit in museums having items in their collections for research (and not necessarily display), but what I am uncertain of is if there really is even research and heritage value for these halberds. Like it was pointed out, they are really Spanish colonial weapons rather than Filipino.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by mdp10003

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on museum collections. I do believe there is merit in museums having items in their collections for research (and not necessarily display), but what I am uncertain of is if there really is even research and heritage value for these halberds. Like it was pointed out, they are really Spanish colonial weapons rather than Filipino.

Having been to the Philipines many times I can tell you that the period of the Spanish intervention in the Philippines is an important part of their history, as well as the American and Japanese interventions and items from those times are valued historically even they are not of Philipine origin.

On a recent trip to the Philippines, the Manila airport had a large display of WWII items and photographs showing the destruction and atrocities commited by the Japanese, it was very moving. The Spanish involvement was for a much longer period, I am sure that items from the period would be valued by Filipinos who are interested in the history of their country.

[mdp10003]

Originally Posted by estcrh

The Spanish involvement was for a much longer period, I am sure that items from the period would be valued by Filipinos who are interested in the history of their country.

You are right in that there is a lot of interest in Spanish colonial items, as well as those from the Philippine revolutionary period (1896-1902). That is great that you also have 2 of the halberds!

[Spunjer]

Here's one from Sulu.
on the accompanying note it says, "Steel halbred of the Swiss Pontifical Guard, from the collection of the Sultan of Sulu (Philippines). The Sultan gave it to Colonel Hayes in 1899."

[estcrh]

Here is another one. The other picture is the largest I could find, the middle image supposedly shows a guard with the same type of Halberd.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Spunjer

Here's one from Sulu.
on the accompanying note it says, "Steel halbred of the Swiss Pontifical Guard, from the collection of the Sultan of Sulu (Philippines). The Sultan gave it to Colonel Hayes in 1899."

With a bit of editing!