New Gunong

Robert · 11th August 2012, 11:50 PM

Hello everyone and thank you all for your help and the great examples that have been posted. I've again tried to get some decent pictures but as you can tell a photographer I am not. However I do believe that these do show the detailing on this a little better. The picture of the guard shows the sandwich technique used in its construction which I believe is the same used on Jose's example. They also show my poor attempt "my first ever" at etching a blade. I cleaned it with ammonia, heated it slightly and then applied lime juice. At least this way I could get a very poor picture showing its construction. It could be seen quite easily before this by looking at it from an angle but I could not get a picture that it would show in at all before applying the lime juice. I would have had more showing the belt loops construction which is the same as the guards but the batteries in my camera died, I think it was trying to tell me something.

The pictures of the scabbard do not do it justice at all, instead of better showing the giltwork, metalwork and color "which is alot deeper in person" they just seem to highlight the flaws. Anyway I hope that they are of some help. It would be nice to have a solid time frame as to when it was made and who it might have been for, but even if it is of later construction I will always hold it as one of my most prized pieces because it was a gift from my best friend, my wife.

Robert

David · 12th August 2012, 12:11 AM

Well Robert, there was never any question that this gunong is both expertly made and beautiful.

migueldiaz · 12th August 2012, 11:50 AM

Here's a similar piece, from a Paris museum, Musée du quai Branly (pics att.)...

mrwizard · 12th August 2012, 03:23 PM

Just for the records: a gunong with fittings of similar style but of rather poor workmanship. I believe it has been made for the travellers market. The seller told me it was brought to europe by an american soldier shortly after WW2.

Battara · 12th August 2012, 05:16 PM

Good comparison Mr. Wizard - notice the hilt and the waves of the blade, definite indications of very post WWII. Also the guard is blocky and is not cut to the contours of the okir.

David · 12th August 2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrwizard

Just for the records: a gunong with fittings of similar style but of rather poor workmanship. I believe it has been made for the travellers market. The seller told me it was brought to europe by an american soldier shortly after WW2.

I agree with Jose that this is probably a very post WW2 example and that the seller exaggerated with his "shortly after WW2" comment (to think that they might ever do such a thing!

).

David · 12th August 2012, 11:29 PM

While we're at it, when did the gunong itself first appear? I have asked this question before with no solid result, but i guess it doesn't hurt to keep asking. :-) Has anyone seen any gunongs that can be safely dated before the late 19th century?

11th August 2012, 11:50 PM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello everyone and thank you all for your help and the great examples that have been posted. I've again tried to get some decent pictures but as you can tell a photographer I am not. However I do believe that these do show the detailing on this a little better. The picture of the guard shows the sandwich technique used in its construction which I believe is the same used on Jose's example. They also show my poor attempt "my first ever" at etching a blade. I cleaned it with ammonia, heated it slightly and then applied lime juice. At least this way I could get a very poor picture showing its construction. It could be seen quite easily before this by looking at it from an angle but I could not get a picture that it would show in at all before applying the lime juice. I would have had more showing the belt loops construction which is the same as the guards but the batteries in my camera died, I think it was trying to tell me something. The pictures of the scabbard do not do it justice at all, instead of better showing the giltwork, metalwork and color "which is alot deeper in person" they just seem to highlight the flaws. Anyway I hope that they are of some help. It would be nice to have a solid time frame as to when it was made and who it might have been for, but even if it is of later construction I will always hold it as one of my most prized pieces because it was a gift from my best friend, my wife. Robert Attached Images Last edited by Robert Coleman; 12th August 2012 at 12:16 AM.

12th August 2012, 11:50 AM	#3
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Here's a similar piece, from a Paris museum, Musée du quai Branly (pics att.)... Attached Images

12th August 2012, 03:23 PM	#4
mrwizard Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 102	Just for the records: a gunong with fittings of similar style but of rather poor workmanship. I believe it has been made for the travellers market. The seller told me it was brought to europe by an american soldier shortly after WW2. Attached Images

12th August 2012, 12:11 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Well Robert, there was never any question that this gunong is both expertly made and beautiful.

12th August 2012, 05:16 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Good comparison Mr. Wizard - notice the hilt and the waves of the blade, definite indications of very post WWII. Also the guard is blocky and is not cut to the contours of the okir.

12th August 2012, 11:29 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	While we're at it, when did the gunong itself first appear? I have asked this question before with no solid result, but i guess it doesn't hurt to keep asking. :-) Has anyone seen any gunongs that can be safely dated before the late 19th century?