Artwork Page for Sword (Kalis or Sundang)

Details / Information for Sword (Kalis or Sundang)

Sword (Kalis or Sundang)

before 1918

Philippines

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Medium
Blade: metal; handle: metal with silver and braided twine; pommel: ivory
Measurements
Overall: 61 cm (24 in.); Blade: 49 cm (19 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of J. H. Wade 1918.649
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The asang-asang—literally “fish gill”—stabilizes the blade while referencing the purifying quality attributed to fish gills.

Description

This sword’s blade is straight near the tip and transitions into gentle undulations toward the lower half. The guard consists of pierced okir wings, secured on one side by a single asang-asang clamp (also called baca-baca by the Maranao). The hilt is wrapped in dark fiber or rattan bindings and metal ferrules, and fitted with a small, comparatively modest cockatoo (kakatua) form.
Rectangular, dark-brown scabbard containing a kris, a sword with an asymmetrical, triangular base, the black speckled, silver metal extending over the scabbard's edge. The blade's triangular base cuts off into jagged edges on one side while the other is smooth on one side and serrated on the other. A dark-brown, cylindrical hilt fastens to the blade, topped by a yellow-brown darkening to dark-brown claw-like arch. Zig-zagging, medium-brown string wraps around the scabbard's lower half.

Sword (Kalis or Sundang)

before 1918

Philippines

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