A Philippines Spear...But Which Ethnic Group???

CharlesS · 22nd April 2019, 04:47 PM

I bought this lovely spear from Arjan a few weeks ago. He thought it might be Moro, but I do don't think so.

When I saw the central panel's configuration I immediately thought Mandaya, but the panel is too elongated for Mandaya spear blades, and the angles are not as defined as they are in Mandaya examples.

The spear has a carefully laminated head, in thin barely noticeable layers. They do not etch into different colors of gray like me might see on a Moro example. The base of the spearhead is superbly chiseled and fits perfectly on to the pedestal of the spear silver alloy ferrule. The ferrule has a noticeably Indonesian flavor.

The haft is rattan, quite plain, and so I didn't see much of a point of photographing it for this query.

Any ideas which ethnic group may have created this lovely spearhead?

Dimensions:
Overall spear: just short of 7ft.
Spearhead and ferrule: 23in.
Spearhead including chiseled base: 16.5in.
Blade edge: 13.5in.

22nd April 2019, 04:47 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	A Philippines Spear...But Which Ethnic Group??? I bought this lovely spear from Arjan a few weeks ago. He thought it might be Moro, but I do don't think so. When I saw the central panel's configuration I immediately thought Mandaya, but the panel is too elongated for Mandaya spear blades, and the angles are not as defined as they are in Mandaya examples. The spear has a carefully laminated head, in thin barely noticeable layers. They do not etch into different colors of gray like me might see on a Moro example. The base of the spearhead is superbly chiseled and fits perfectly on to the pedestal of the spear silver alloy ferrule. The ferrule has a noticeably Indonesian flavor. The haft is rattan, quite plain, and so I didn't see much of a point of photographing it for this query. *Any ideas which ethnic group may have created this lovely spearhead?* Dimensions: Overall spear: just short of 7ft. Spearhead and ferrule: 23in. Spearhead including chiseled base: 16.5in. Blade edge: 13.5in. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 22nd April 2019 at 05:03 PM.