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9th July 2021, 12:45 AM | #1 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,143
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This is a nice ivory Maranao barong. I did some restoration work on this. Glad it went to a loving owner!
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9th July 2021, 05:07 AM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 598
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Among us Filipino collectors, it's Mr pindang that has the most barungs, I'm betting He has a plethora of them!
Here are my latest barungs...a Sama barung with some initials on the scabbard plate and well-preserved rattan ferrule. 16in blade, hollow ground edge. Then a barung entrusted to me by Ian, probably the best among my barungs right now...20.75in blade with sandigan edge. Wields really well, but with a beastly momentum on every cut. |
9th July 2021, 09:25 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 26
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10th July 2021, 12:39 AM | #4 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,065
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Xas,
You are accumulating quite a collection of barung! I'm pleased you like the shandigan blade. As you say, it is quite a beast and longer than most shandigan. Look forward to hearing how it cuts for you. |
10th July 2021, 12:47 AM | #5 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,236
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Hello Jose,
Quote:
Regards, Kai |
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10th July 2021, 06:26 AM | #6 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 26
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Quote:
Please let me know what other photographs does the forum need to better help identify my blade? I'll be more than happy to take them for everyone so it can be evaluated. Thanks Ira |
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10th July 2021, 06:52 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 598
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A full-length photograph with the weapon on one side (see mine) would be great
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10th July 2021, 10:09 PM | #8 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,236
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Hello Ira,
Quote:
Both sides of the blade, please. And a view on the top (back of the blade) to see the distal taper would be kind. Sometimes a close-up of the base of the blade as well as closer to the tip reveals additional details. BTW, Jose, did you try to etch this blade? Any laminations? Barung blades are quite tough to evaluate from pics and handling them gives you much more data for any attribution. Thus, it would be great to hear Jose's thoughts on this blade, too! Regards, Kai |
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10th July 2021, 11:22 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 26
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Thank you everyone for the guidance.
Here's some additional photos. Please let me know if you guys need more angles. Once I get a better camera I'll use it when taking photos, for now I'm only using my iPhone. Thanks Ira |
11th July 2021, 04:42 AM | #10 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,143
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Regarding restoration, I made the ivory tail from scratch and the silver nail that helps keep it in place. Also I re-attached the middle ivory plug on top and refitted the blade and pommel.
Regarding attribution, this style of barong (and especially the okir) are Maranao. There are some other examples (which I would have to look up). It is true that the Maranao are not generally known for their barongs, I think this is a later development, like in the early 20th century. Is the blade Maranao or Sulu? - will have to look into that. |
11th July 2021, 04:45 AM | #11 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,143
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Here are some pre-restoration pictures of the pommel.
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11th July 2021, 06:51 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 26
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11th July 2021, 02:00 PM | #13 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,236
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Hello Jose,
Thanks for the resto details - well done! Quote:
The late 20th/21st century "barong" from Marawi seem quite aimed at the international collector's market including local antique and curio/souvenir shops (as is much of the other blade production as well). These latter examples usually seem to come with blades resembling the Palawan version rather than traditional Sulu shapes. Given the diversity of antique Moro blades, it would be good to establish if there possibly were any indigeneous barung-like blades around in Maranao or Maguindanao cultures, too. Regards, Kai |
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