Maranao Sundang

[Bill M]

Looks like his feet are etched

[David]

Well i would say that the blade definitely appears to be etched dark in this photo so there must be some tradition to it.

[ThePepperSkull]

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Looks like his feet are etched

I wonder what Pamor we'd call that.... Pamor Bluchis (Blue cheese) ?

Originally Posted by David

Well i would say that the blade definitely appears to be etched dark in this photo so there must be some tradition to it.

Definitely. I'd say that this would be indicative of the aforementioned sun heat and Citrus juice etching method mentioned in this thread.

[Bill M]

I heard that the Moro liked darker blades when they waited in ambush. Perhaps lighter blades when at home or when they wanted to make a "flashy entrance."

I recently met a Moro Princess of the Buayan Dynasty. Maybe she would know. I'll ask. She is more involved in politics, but since Datu Utto was in her lineage, she might have an opinion.

[Gustav]

Dear All,

regarding the stain on moro krisses: in a catalogue of an Pilippines exhibition in Munich from 1985 I found this kris.

There is no date of acquisition in the catalogue, yet it should be between 1880 and 1926.

It is also interesting with regards to this thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=kris+krosses

[Battara]

Gustav, what a great piece! Superb in condition and creation. Also great example of blades being first stained.

I might place this piece a little earlier only because of the workmanship quality. maybe 1860s - 1880s? The blade is Maguindanao. The work maybe too.

Thanks for sharing. Could you also post the description please (even if it is in German)?

[Gustav]

Jose, the description is very rudimentary:

A sword with straight Kris-blade. Blackened steel with "Silbertauschierung" (silver inlays). Chased silver handle in shape of a rudimentary bird form, which carries the kris on its back (typ 1.5); length: 55 cm; Sulu Archipelago, 19. cent.

Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde München.

Inv. number : 25-60-14

The writer, Rose Schubert, has an interesting, yet strange vision of the hilt: she interprets these hilts as a bird, which carries the kris on its back; this form becomes evident once the tip of the blade points upward. It makes perhaps some sense with Junggayan, yet not with simpler forms.

I ask me, if description "silver inlay" is absolutely precise also. If you look closely, the silver vire seems twisted. I suppose, it could be intertwined silver and gold wire, as seen on some examples.

Jose, if you are interested in the date of acquisition of this kris, I could try to ask the museum.

[Battara]

If you would Gustav, that would be great. The blade looks Maguindanao, but yes the okir has a Sulu flair to it, even though some aspects seem Maguindanao as well.

Any extra information would be so helpful to us......

[Spunjer]

beautiful kris, gustav. similar in style with this kris:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=robotic
notice the one kino posted on that same thread.

Originally Posted by Gustav

The writer, Rose Schubert, has an interesting, yet strange vision of the hilt: she interprets these hilts as a bird, which carries the kris on its back; this form becomes evident once the tip of the blade points upward. It makes perhaps some sense with Junggayan, yet not with simpler forms.

i agree with the writer on this, in that the hilt is that of a bird; sarimanok, to be more specific, and not the cockatoo that cato proposed. junggayans tend to be the more stylized and kinda pushing it to the edge version of the sarimanok...

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Gustav

I ask me, if description "silver inlay" is absolutely precise also. If you look closely, the silver vire seems twisted. I suppose, it could be intertwined silver and gold wire, as seen on some examples.

I forgot to respond to this - yes there are wire twist inlays done on some kris. Not an easy thing to do.