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Source Description
This sword has a broad, leaf-shaped blade characteristic of the Sulu Archipelago. Its profile suggests it was used for powerful cut-and-slash fighting. The hilt terminates in an exceptionally long ivory cockatoo (<em>kakatua</em>) pommel, carved with delicate <em>okir </em>scrollwork. This was an object of authority, status, and ceremonial presence within Tausug culture, probably owned by a member of the <em>datu</em> ruling class.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
97074
label
Sword (Barong)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
97074
contentType
object
title
Sword (Barong)
description
This sword has a broad, leaf-shaped blade characteristic of the Sulu Archipelago. Its profile suggests it was used for powerful cut-and-slash fighting. The hilt terminates in an exceptionally long ivory cockatoo (<em>kakatua</em>) pommel, carved with delicate <em>okir </em>scrollwork. This was an object of authority, status, and ceremonial presence within Tausug culture, probably owned by a member of the <em>datu</em> ruling class.
date
before 1916
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79481115
genreSpecific
Arms and Armor
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 65.5 cm (25 13/16 in.); Blade: 42.2 cm (16 5/8 in.)
cul
Philippines, Mindanao, Sulu Archipelago
accession
1916.729
Source extras
tec
Blade: metal; handle: metal with silver foil and repoussé work; pommel: ivory and carabao horn
tombstone
Sword (Barong), before 1916. Philippines, Mindanao, Sulu Archipelago. Blade: metal; handle: metal with silver foil and repoussé work; pommel: ivory and carabao horn; overall: 65.5 cm (25 13/16 in.); blade: 42.2 cm (16 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.729
collection
Oceanic Art
didYouKnow
The ovular shape on the ivory pommel’s base marks where the nerve of the tooth was.
creditline
Gift of J. H. Wade
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:13:50.831000
sourceId
97074
dept
Oceania
coll
Oceanic Art
med
Blade: metal; handle: metal with silver foil and repoussé work; pommel: ivory and carabao horn
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
ddc3382de2a151c5