MY FIRST BARONG

ariel · 9th May 2006, 02:36 AM

I guess it is a matter of taste: in Arabian countries old blades are always polished by the collectors to the mirror-type shine. European collectors prefer their blades clean but patinated (at least what they say in the Saudi book "Weapons of the Islamic World").

Tim Simmons · 9th May 2006, 06:59 AM

Just letting a natural patina develop means the only intervention is a light clean with the finest steel wool and oil now and again, No harm done, and if the previous owner or owners have done so, the object remains pretty much as found. Without one trying to leave the world a better place

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Spunjer · 9th May 2006, 12:15 PM

i just find filipino swords unkept very disrespectful. here's a kris that was 'westernized', as explained by battara, where the blade was polished. the odd thing was, whoever did it neglected the gangya and the handle was left to frayed.

Spunjer · 9th May 2006, 12:22 PM

only after etching the blade did the true beauty came out..

ariel · 9th May 2006, 01:20 PM

I can see your point: that was exactly as the master envisioned it.
After all, if a respectable museum acquires a lost Rembrandt, they clean it first.

Tim Simmons · 9th May 2006, 01:37 PM

I too can see your point in this case as the damage had already been done by aggressive polishing the ruination of many antique metal items. The etching is in the form of restoration it looks great . On the other hand, to take an example like the thread starter which is a nice clean barong with a developing patina, you can see the quality of the blade and one could always look with the aid of a glass, etching a bit like needlessly rubbing it with a rough abrasive paper, is as damaging as polishing. In my mind.

Rick · 9th May 2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I too can see your point in this case as the damage had already been done by aggressive polishing the ruination of many antique metal items. The etching is in the form of restoration it looks great . On the other hand, to take an example like the thread starter which is a nice clean barong with a developing patina, you can see the quality of the blade and one could always look with the aid of a glass, etching a bit like needlessly rubbing it with a rough abrasive paper, is as damaging as polishing. In my mind.

To be honest Tim if I might disagree ; the subject Barung seems to have been polished after the fact .

I don't think that is the original finish

Ian · 9th May 2006, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

i just find filipino swords unkept very disrespectful. here's a kris that was 'westernized', as explained by battara, where the blade was polished. the odd thing was, whoever did it neglected the gangya and the handle was left to frayed.

Ron:

The gangya area can be tedious to clean -- lots of little nooks and crannies -- and I think people get lazy with their "restoration" work, and leave that area to its natural state. We see this on many kris, even those coming out of Mindanao today. To some extent corrosion of the gangya may be related to kris being kept in scabbards that don't completely cover that area, but I think many times it's because the area is just too much of a chore to clean well.

Ian

9th May 2006, 12:15 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	i just find filipino swords unkept very disrespectful. here's a kris that was 'westernized', as explained by battara, where the blade was polished. the odd thing was, whoever did it neglected the gangya and the handle was left to frayed. Attached Images

9th May 2006, 12:22 PM	#4
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	only after etching the blade did the true beauty came out.. Attached Images

9th May 2006, 02:36 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I guess it is a matter of taste: in Arabian countries old blades are always polished by the collectors to the mirror-type shine. European collectors prefer their blades clean but patinated (at least what they say in the Saudi book "Weapons of the Islamic World").

9th May 2006, 06:59 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Just letting a natural patina develop means the only intervention is a light clean with the finest steel wool and oil now and again, No harm done, and if the previous owner or owners have done so, the object remains pretty much as found. Without one trying to leave the world a better place .

9th May 2006, 01:20 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I can see your point: that was exactly as the master envisioned it. After all, if a respectable museum acquires a lost Rembrandt, they clean it first.

9th May 2006, 01:37 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	I too can see your point in this case as the damage had already been done by aggressive polishing the ruination of many antique metal items. The etching is in the form of restoration it looks great . On the other hand, to take an example like the thread starter which is a nice clean barong with a developing patina, you can see the quality of the blade and one could always look with the aid of a glass, etching a bit like needlessly rubbing it with a rough abrasive paper, is as damaging as polishing. In my mind.