Go on... show us your Barung!!!

[Indio_Ira]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Jose,


Thanks for confirming! The blade is not easy to evaluate from the limited pics - do you think it also is Maranao or is it a recycled Sulu blade?

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,
Please let me know what other photographs does the forum need to better help identify my blade? I'll be more than happy to take them for everyone so it can be evaluated.

Thanks
Ira

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Indio_Ira

Hello Kai,
Please let me know what other photographs does the forum need to better help identify my blade? I'll be more than happy to take them for everyone so it can be evaluated.

Thanks
Ira

A full-length photograph with the weapon on one side (see mine) would be great

[kai]

Hello Ira,

Please let me know what other photographs does the forum need to better help identify my blade?

Your pic of the whole piece in post #88 is not bad - a larger pic of the blade would be great (the one in post #110 is taken at an angle): Make sure though to minimize effects of wide angle lenses, especially mobile phone lenses easily result in distorted lines. If available, try a tele lens and keeping the lens exactly vertical above the center of the blade; utilize only the middle of the pic for the part to be shown and later crop the high rez pic; try to keep as much size as well as resolution as possible! (The forum software now accepts quite large pics - more than is stated in the old rules...)

Both sides of the blade, please. And a view on the top (back of the blade) to see the distal taper would be kind. Sometimes a close-up of the base of the blade as well as closer to the tip reveals additional details.

BTW, Jose, did you try to etch this blade? Any laminations?

Barung blades are quite tough to evaluate from pics and handling them gives you much more data for any attribution. Thus, it would be great to hear Jose's thoughts on this blade, too!

Regards,
Kai

[Indio_Ira]

Thank you everyone for the guidance.

Here's some additional photos. Please let me know if you guys need more angles.

Once I get a better camera I'll use it when taking photos, for now I'm only using my iPhone.

Thanks
Ira

[Battara]

Regarding restoration, I made the ivory tail from scratch and the silver nail that helps keep it in place. Also I re-attached the middle ivory plug on top and refitted the blade and pommel.

Regarding attribution, this style of barong (and especially the okir) are Maranao. There are some other examples (which I would have to look up). It is true that the Maranao are not generally known for their barongs, I think this is a later development, like in the early 20th century. Is the blade Maranao or Sulu? - will have to look into that.

[Battara]

Here are some pre-restoration pictures of the pommel.

[Indio_Ira]

Originally Posted by Battara

Here are some pre-restoration pictures of the pommel.

Wow, thank you for sharing this! You did a great job with the restoration.

It was my first Barong so I am very happy with it.

[Ian]

Indio_Ira,

I think your blade is of Sulu manufacture but the dress is distinctly Maranao in the style of silverwork on the hilt and the composition of the scabbard. The Sulu origin of the blade can be deduced from the area of maximum width of the blade (shown by the rectangular outline on the attached picture), which less than halfway towards the tip. Blades from Palawan and Zamboanga have more distal areas of maximum width. The different geometries confer different handling characteristics.

Ian

[CharlesS]

These are my two latest...

[kai]

Hello Jose,

Thanks for the resto details - well done!

Regarding attribution, this style of barong (and especially the okir) are Maranao. There are some other examples (which I would have to look up). It is true that the Maranao are not generally known for their barongs, I think this is a later development, like in the early 20th century. Is the blade Maranao or Sulu? - will have to look into that.

Any additional insight appreciated - especially pics of any relatively early examples!

The late 20th/21st century "barong" from Marawi seem quite aimed at the international collector's market including local antique and curio/souvenir shops (as is much of the other blade production as well).

These latter examples usually seem to come with blades resembling the Palawan version rather than traditional Sulu shapes. Given the diversity of antique Moro blades, it would be good to establish if there possibly were any indigeneous barung-like blades around in Maranao or Maguindanao cultures, too.

Regards,
Kai