Highly unusual "Moro" kris/keris

[Ian]

Rafngard:

Here is the description provided by Hermann Historica in May, 2011 catalog. Perhaps someone more fluent in German than I am could translate the description.

Kleiner Kris der Moro,

Mindanao, 1. Hälfte 20. Jhdt. Gewellte Rasenerzklinge mit geschnittener Wurzel und Neusilbermanschette. Neusilber- und kupferdrahtgefasster Griff mit beschnitztem Beinknauf. Holzscheide mit drei Neusilberbändern. Länge 35,5 cm.

Provenienz: Freiherr von Hochstetter, Düsseldorf.

From this it appears that the overall length was 35.5 cm (14 inches), hence the listing as a Small Moro Kris. First half of the 20th C seems correct based on the scabbard style. The scabbard style looks Maguindanao or Maranao to me, so the attribution to the island of Mindanao also seems correct.


Ian