MORO KRIS LOOKS LIKE IT COMES FROM BORNEO

kai · 25th September 2007, 07:28 AM

Hello Ben,

Quote:

this barong could be older than you think

That's Cato's dating and his opinions have been questioned before...

Do you have reliable provenance/dating for your piece? Would be great to get additional data on these nice blades!

Quote:

mother off pearl is inlay

That's also supposed to be correlated with younger pieces but allows even less sure dating AFAIK.

To me, the blade would be most important, anyway. And that can always be older than the fittings...

Regards,
Kai

Dajak · 25th September 2007, 04:37 PM

Here some pics about the blade

kai · 25th September 2007, 07:49 PM

Hello Ben,

Quote:

Here some pics about the blade

A nicely laminated blade (that pattern is quite often seen in Barong)! Did you received it etched as it is? The slender form seems to crop out quite often in Sabah but has been found elsewhere, too. (Vice versa with the more deep bellied blades also showing up in Sabah, too, as shown by Ling Roth's example so shape doesn't seem of great help in determining the origin of a Barong.)

The hilt seems to be well worn with good quality banati/bunti wood used for the pommel. Any hints on the date when this piece got collected?

BTW, Ben, did you received my email/PM on the other blades?

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 28th September 2007, 06:44 PM

I am inclined to believe that the MOP is a later tendency, no earlier than the turn of the century. It is also possible that the scabbard is later. The actual barong seems to be no older than the turn of the century and of Samal influence. The scabbard however seems to be of Samal in carving and Borneo influence in shape and size. I do like the chasing decoration on the silver punto at top and bottom.

25th September 2007, 04:37 PM	#2
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Here some pics about the blade Attached Images

28th September 2007, 06:44 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I am inclined to believe that the MOP is a later tendency, no earlier than the turn of the century. It is also possible that the scabbard is later. The actual barong seems to be no older than the turn of the century and of Samal influence. The scabbard however seems to be of Samal in carving and Borneo influence in shape and size. I do like the chasing decoration on the silver punto at top and bottom.