Twistcore Moro spear with provenance, collected in 1872!

CharlesS · 14th September 2010, 04:59 PM

Just a beautiful example Maurice!! I remain convinced that the Moros made some of the best quality spears anywhere in the world, of course most especially the budiaks.

Maurice · 17th October 2010, 04:09 PM

When searching for more information of captain Chimmo and his expedition, I found two more old newspaper articles today.
Just to share the info with the one who would be interested.

One is of the Daily Southern Cross, 30 December 1872.
The second is of the Wellington Independent, 4 March 1873.

Maybe this spear is the one that ended up in Mr. White's neck???????

Regards,
Maurice

Lee · 29th November 2017, 12:40 AM

Interestingly, there is a brief mention of Cpt. Chimmo and the Nassau in the log of the clipper ship Franklin written by its Captain John Drew:

Ship Franklin in the ____ Sea. July 21st 1871. 9 days day from (Ilo-ilo?). Latitude 5.30 degrees North. Long. 122.4 East

We have had some very pleasant intercourse with the Capt. and officers of the H.B.M. surveying Steamer, Nassau, which I have already mentioned. Capt. Chimmo, an Irish gentleman is in command and a very intelligent person. He called on me and we exchanged specimens of curious shells, etc. The ward room officers all came to breakfast one morning- and I was on board and then on to dinner. We compared charts- chronometers, which was of great value to me, and I was able to give them some new reports of shoals which they had not heard of. The artist on board was a young English Nobleman, The Hon. Mr. Verica. A real nice fellow, the first blooded gent, I have ever acquainted with. His drawings and water colors are very fine. They are engaged in surveying these seas, taking deep sea soundings, and making microscopic drawings of all that the lead brings up from the bottom of the sea. Also, making collections of everything that comes their way, in the natural history, etc. –live- I was able to give them some ferns which they very much prized. Good luck to the “Nassau”, I say.

Battara · 29th November 2017, 12:58 AM

This piece also strengthens my argument that Moro twist cores where dying out by the last quarter of the 19thc and basically gone by the turn of the 20th.

kai · 29th November 2017, 02:01 PM

Hello Jose,

Quote:

This piece also strengthens my argument that Moro twist cores where dying out by the last quarter of the 19thc and basically gone by the turn of the 20th.

Could you develop your hypothesis, please? Not trying to pick on you, just curious!

I don't see how this spear collected around 1872 has any impact on this topic? Very rare to have such well-documented provenance, especially for pieces in a private collection; the collection date is neither particularly early nor late though.

The Moro economies had been steadily declining during the 19th century and also the Span.-Am. war certainly did take its toll as did the US colonial presence afterwards well into the 20th century. Thus, it is to be expected that orders for high status pieces were declining. Numbers of swordsmiths and their experience/skills probably, too...

Regards,
Kai

kai · 29th November 2017, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the link, Lee!

Lee · 29th November 2017, 07:28 PM

I wonder even more about at what time the twist-core pattern-welding first appeared in this area. In the example I presented in this thread, when I removed the broken shaft elements, the tarry mastic was still in place and there was old brown rust on the tang - and no evidence of recent corrosion products or of debris to suggest that this was also its state when it was mounted - likely a century ago. The nature of the oxide layer on the tang resembled the same patina often seen on a Japanese swords that are several centuries old.

17th October 2010, 04:09 PM	#2
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,453	Two more old articles found! When searching for more information of captain Chimmo and his expedition, I found two more old newspaper articles today. Just to share the info with the one who would be interested. One is of the Daily Southern Cross, 30 December 1872. The second is of the Wellington Independent, 4 March 1873. Maybe this spear is the one that ended up in Mr. White's neck??????? Regards, Maurice Attached Images

29th November 2017, 12:40 AM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 937	A brief contemporary mention Interestingly, there is a brief mention of Cpt. Chimmo and the Nassau in the log of the clipper ship Franklin written by its Captain John Drew: Ship Franklin in the ____ Sea. July 21st 1871. 9 days day from (Ilo-ilo?). Latitude 5.30 degrees North. Long. 122.4 East We have had some very pleasant intercourse with the Capt. and officers of the H.B.M. surveying Steamer, Nassau, which I have already mentioned. Capt. Chimmo, an Irish gentleman is in command and a very intelligent person. He called on me and we exchanged specimens of curious shells, etc. The ward room officers all came to breakfast one morning- and I was on board and then on to dinner. We compared charts- chronometers, which was of great value to me, and I was able to give them some new reports of shoals which they had not heard of. The artist on board was a young English Nobleman, The Hon. Mr. Verica. A real nice fellow, the first blooded gent, I have ever acquainted with. His drawings and water colors are very fine. They are engaged in surveying these seas, taking deep sea soundings, and making microscopic drawings of all that the lead brings up from the bottom of the sea. Also, making collections of everything that comes their way, in the natural history, etc. –live- I was able to give them some ferns which they very much prized. Good luck to the “Nassau”, I say. Last edited by Lee; 29th November 2017 at 07:18 PM. Reason: adding relevant text from the linked site

29th November 2017, 07:28 PM	#7
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 937	Dating of Moro Twist-Core Blades I wonder even more about at what time the twist-core pattern-welding first appeared in this area. In the example I presented in this thread, when I removed the broken shaft elements, the tarry mastic was still in place and there was old brown rust on the tang - and no evidence of recent corrosion products or of debris to suggest that this was also its state when it was mounted - likely a century ago. The nature of the oxide layer on the tang resembled the same patina often seen on a Japanese swords that are several centuries old.

14th September 2010, 04:59 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Just a beautiful example Maurice!! I remain convinced that the Moros made some of the best quality spears anywhere in the world, of course most especially the budiaks.

29th November 2017, 12:58 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	This piece also strengthens my argument that Moro twist cores where dying out by the last quarter of the 19thc and basically gone by the turn of the 20th.

29th November 2017, 02:01 PM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Thanks for the link, Lee!