MORO KRIS - ANOTHER ONE

tanaruz · 14th October 2021, 12:41 PM

Hi all,

My father bought this just today (with another blade- in the picture).
Is this a Maranao or a Maguindanao kris (just like the one which I have posted with the yellow-dyed thread hilt?

Possible age?

Many thanks in advance,

Yves

Ian · 14th October 2021, 01:08 PM

Hi Yves,

This is another Maguindanao kris, probably last quarter of the 19th C or very early 20th C. The twine wrap on the hilt is similar to a recent example that you showed.

Ian

tanaruz · 14th October 2021, 01:58 PM

Hello Sir Ian,

Thank you.

Regards

Yves

Battara · 15th October 2021, 12:32 AM

Again Ian is spot on.

tanaruz · 24th October 2021, 12:01 PM

Hi all,

Thank you for the imputs.

An update:

We have this piece cleaned and properly restored. When we(with my father) came over to the restorer (who is also a jeweler)- we were informed that the ring (called punto on other blades or gutlang katik (Tausog nomenclature, but unnamed to other blades)- is gold. So we told the jeweler that it might be swassa- so what he(jeweler) did was tested it- and it is gold. According to him, it is graded between 14-18k!

Christmas would have come early this year for me and my father. Ha ha

Kind regards

Yves

Battara · 24th October 2021, 06:35 PM

Very nice. Then the top ring around the pommel was also gold or 14k gold thick plate (which I suspect your bottom ferrule is also).

Ian · 24th October 2021, 07:50 PM

Yves,

What a nice surprise! As I'm sure you know already, gold ornamentation on Moro swords was reserved for royalty or persons of very high ranking (such as panglima or powerful datu). It is very uncommon to find gold on a plain battle kris such as this one. The blade deserves a careful polish and etch because it is likely of high quality also.

Ian

tanaruz · 25th October 2021, 11:51 AM

Thank you all for sharing your insights.

One last question: how many luks/waves does this kris have? is it 12 or 13?

Keep safe,

More blades to be posted:-)

Yves

David · 25th October 2021, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanaruz

Thank you all for sharing your insights.

One last question: how many luks/waves does this kris have? is it 12 or 13?

Keep safe,

More blades to be posted:-)

Yves

It clearly looks like 13 to me. Both Indonesian keris and Moro Kris will always have an odd number of waves.
A very nice Kris that certainly deserves some further restoration. Just be careful not to take it too far.

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14th October 2021, 12:41 PM	#1
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 278	MORO KRIS - ANOTHER ONE Hi all, My father bought this just today (with another blade- in the picture). Is this a Maranao or a Maguindanao kris (just like the one which I have posted with the yellow-dyed thread hilt? Possible age? Many thanks in advance, Yves Attached Images

14th October 2021, 01:58 PM	#3
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 278	MORO KRIS-ANOTHER ONE Hello Sir Ian, Thank you. Regards Yves

24th October 2021, 12:01 PM	#5
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 278	Moro kris-another one Hi all, Thank you for the imputs. An update: We have this piece cleaned and properly restored. When we(with my father) came over to the restorer (who is also a jeweler)- we were informed that the ring (called punto on other blades or gutlang katik (Tausog nomenclature, but unnamed to other blades)- is gold. So we told the jeweler that it might be swassa- so what he(jeweler) did was tested it- and it is gold. According to him, it is graded between 14-18k! Christmas would have come early this year for me and my father. Ha ha Kind regards Yves

25th October 2021, 11:51 AM	#8
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 278	MORO KRIS - ANOTHER ONE Thank you all for sharing your insights. One last question: how many luks/waves does this kris have? is it 12 or 13? Keep safe, More blades to be posted:-) Yves

14th October 2021, 01:08 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,469	Hi Yves, This is another Maguindanao kris, probably last quarter of the 19th C or very early 20th C. The twine wrap on the hilt is similar to a recent example that you showed. Ian

15th October 2021, 12:32 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,316	Again Ian is spot on.

24th October 2021, 06:35 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,316	Very nice. Then the top ring around the pommel was also gold or 14k gold thick plate (which I suspect your bottom ferrule is also).

24th October 2021, 07:50 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,469	Yves, What a nice surprise! As I'm sure you know already, gold ornamentation on Moro swords was reserved for royalty or persons of very high ranking (such as panglima or powerful datu). It is very uncommon to find gold on a plain battle kris such as this one. The blade deserves a careful polish and etch because it is likely of high quality also. Ian