Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 5th March 2020, 04:09 AM   #1
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default Bagobo Datu Spear

Greetings folks.

Here is the only Bagobo datu spear I have. I just finished restoring it based on research from old pictures and Krieger’s work.

The blade is steel with silver and bronze/brass dots. All of the silver inlays are reminiscent of Moro datu kris blade work.

Beneath the blade are a bronze collar with worn down spirals and a brass collar with “figures” chased in it. Below all of that is a section of brass hammered wire, held at the bottom with a bone ring.

At the distal end the spear was split and I glued that, then made the Bagobo figured brass sleeve with a hammered cap at the end.

I would place this at the end of the 19th century.
Attached Images
     
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th March 2020, 04:10 AM   #2
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Here is a picture of a Bagobo datu taken in 1900. Notice the spiral wire wrap near the hand and especially the spear blade with inlay.
Attached Images
  
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th March 2020, 09:36 AM   #3
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,861
Default

Lovely piece and interesting information!

Thank you for sharing!
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th March 2020, 12:11 PM   #4
CharlesS
Member
 
CharlesS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
Default

One of the most attractive Philippines spears I have seen!
CharlesS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th March 2020, 05:15 PM   #5
Oliver Pinchot
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 456
Default

Brilliant restoration, Jose!
Oliver Pinchot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th March 2020, 09:18 PM   #6
xasterix
Member
 
xasterix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 593
Default

Lovely symbolism. Great piece!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Battara
Greetings folks.

Here is the only Bagobo datu spear I have. I just finished restoring it based on research from old pictures and Krieger’s work.

The blade is steel with silver and bronze/brass dots. All of the silver inlays are reminiscent of Moro datu kris blade work.

Beneath the blade are a bronze collar with worn down spirals and a brass collar with “figures” chased in it. Below all of that is a section of brass hammered wire, held at the bottom with a bone ring.

At the distal end the spear was split and I glued that, then made the Bagobo figured brass sleeve with a hammered cap at the end.

I would place this at the end of the 19th century.
xasterix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th March 2020, 10:36 PM   #7
kai
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,213
Thumbs up

Very nice piece, Jose!

Do the silver as well as the brass inlays have central dots from another alloy? Could you take a close-up, please?

Regards,
Kai
kai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6th March 2020, 12:18 AM   #8
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Thank you folks.

Hi Kai, I hope this picture is what you were asking. The only metals that I can find are silver (more like a sterling silver of around 90-92% silver and 10-8% copper alloy) and brass/bronze. No other alloys are present.
Attached Images
 
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6th March 2020, 08:05 AM   #9
Aslan Paladin
Member
 
Aslan Paladin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand
Posts: 122
Thumbs up

Very nice spear Jose, masterfully restored to its original glory.
Aslan Paladin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th March 2020, 04:00 AM   #10
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,135
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kai
Very nice piece, Jose!

Do the silver as well as the brass inlays have central dots from another alloy? Could you take a close-up, please?

Regards,
Kai
After re-reading your question again, I now understand better. The round/middle parts of the dots and inlays are the same. The color differentials are from lighting and the effects of etching. I etched the blade just in case there was a pattern in the steel (and yes it makes the inlays pop out better).
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th March 2020, 09:57 AM   #11
Sajen
Member
 
Sajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,417
Default

Beautiful spear Jose, congrats!
Sajen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.