A friend's newly acquired kris for comment

Battara · 27th April 2017, 12:43 AM

Hi Steve,

I suppose anything is possible.

It is also possible that the hilt is much later.

Ian · 27th April 2017, 01:51 AM

Hi Green:

Battara has nailed this one for you. Maguindanao, late 19th-early 20th C. I have seen similar upturned gangya on other Maguindanao kris, and this may not be an area of damage on your friend's sword.

I'm attaching pics of two of my kris that come from Lumad tribes (non-Christian/non-Muslim) of southern and eastern Mindanao. I believe the first one is most likely from the Bagobo/Tagakaolu people (perhaps Craig can help identify more precisely the ikat designs on the fabrics wrapping the scabbards). The second one may be T'boli (again Craig could perhaps give us a clearer reading). Each of these kris blades bears characteristics of Maguindanao manufacture, and seem to be of similar age to your friend's example. Each one also has the same little upturned end of the gangya.

The scabbards are similar to Maguindanao wooden scabbards of the same period, although the ikat decorated cloth bindings look Lumad in design and execution. Moro pieces are rarely decorated in this manner.

Given the odd looking pommel on your friend's sword, I wonder if his too might have come from one of the non-Moro tribal groups of Mindanao. Just a thought and I would appreciate hearing what others think.

Ian.

-------------------Attachments--------------------

Bagobo kris
T'boli (?) kris

.

Marbel · 27th April 2017, 02:49 AM

Hello Ian,

Very nice pieces. Thanks as always for sharing.

The patterns and characteristics of the small ikat wrappings on the first scabbard are a bit hard to decipher, but the embroidered area on the handle would make me lean toward Bagobo. Nice intricate detail that on another piece might be attributed to the Blaan.

The ikat on the second piece is decidedly Tboli.

All the best,
Craig

Ian · 27th April 2017, 05:26 AM

Craig:

Thanks for the confirmation. I bought both of these from the same dealer in Ermita, Manila. He was confident the first one was Bagobo based on information from his source in Davao City. The second one he thought was T'boli based on having seen a similar one, but he thought that it might also have been B'laan. Seems as though he came to the same conclusions on these two.

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbel

Hello Ian,

Very nice pieces. Thanks as always for sharing.

The patterns and characteristics of the small ikat wrappings on the first scabbard are a bit hard to decipher, but the embroidered area on the handle would make me lean toward Bagobo. Nice intricate detail that on another piece might be attributed to the Blaan.

The ikat on the second piece is decidedly Tboli.

All the best,
Craig

Dayaktribe · 27th April 2017, 10:02 AM

Hello all, I'm friend of Green. thanks to Green for posting this sundang on behalf of me and thanks all for all the informative comments on this sundang. I really appreciate that.

Btw Ian you have nice sundangs there, weird looking handle and very unique.

27th April 2017, 01:51 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,397	Hi Green: Battara has nailed this one for you. Maguindanao, late 19th-early 20th C. I have seen similar upturned gangya on other Maguindanao kris, and this may not be an area of damage on your friend's sword. I'm attaching pics of two of my kris that come from Lumad tribes (non-Christian/non-Muslim) of southern and eastern Mindanao. I believe the first one is most likely from the Bagobo/Tagakaolu people (perhaps Craig can help identify more precisely the ikat designs on the fabrics wrapping the scabbards). The second one may be T'boli (again Craig could perhaps give us a clearer reading). Each of these kris blades bears characteristics of Maguindanao manufacture, and seem to be of similar age to your friend's example. Each one also has the same little upturned end of the gangya. The scabbards are similar to Maguindanao wooden scabbards of the same period, although the ikat decorated cloth bindings look Lumad in design and execution. Moro pieces are rarely decorated in this manner. Given the odd looking pommel on your friend's sword, I wonder if his too might have come from one of the non-Moro tribal groups of Mindanao. Just a thought and I would appreciate hearing what others think. Ian. -------------------Attachments-------------------- Bagobo kris T'boli (?) kris . Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 27th April 2017 at 02:03 AM.

27th April 2017, 12:43 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Hi Steve, I suppose anything is possible. It is also possible that the hilt is much later.

27th April 2017, 02:49 AM	#3
Marbel Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 67	Hello Ian, Very nice pieces. Thanks as always for sharing. The patterns and characteristics of the small ikat wrappings on the first scabbard are a bit hard to decipher, but the embroidered area on the handle would make me lean toward Bagobo. Nice intricate detail that on another piece might be attributed to the Blaan. The ikat on the second piece is decidedly Tboli. All the best, Craig

27th April 2017, 10:02 AM	#5
Dayaktribe Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 11	Hello all, I'm friend of Green. thanks to Green for posting this sundang on behalf of me and thanks all for all the informative comments on this sundang. I really appreciate that. Btw Ian you have nice sundangs there, weird looking handle and very unique.