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Source Description
This sword’s hilt is carved from a dense Philippine hardwood known as <em>kamagong</em> and takes the form of a stylized cockatoo (<em>kakatua</em>), a motif characteristic of Tausug and Yakan sword hilts. Its broad, leaf-shaped steel blade is single-edged at the base and double-edged near the tip, making it ideal for thrusting in both warfare and ceremony.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
97076
label
Sword (Barong)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
97076
contentType
object
title
Sword (Barong)
description
This sword’s hilt is carved from a dense Philippine hardwood known as <em>kamagong</em> and takes the form of a stylized cockatoo (<em>kakatua</em>), a motif characteristic of Tausug and Yakan sword hilts. Its broad, leaf-shaped steel blade is single-edged at the base and double-edged near the tip, making it ideal for thrusting in both warfare and ceremony.
date
before 1916
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79481119
genreSpecific
Arms and Armor
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 68.3 cm (26 7/8 in.); Blade: 45.5 cm (17 15/16 in.)
cul
Philippines, Sulu or Basilan
accession
1916.73
Source extras
tec
Blade: metal inlaid with brass; handle: metal with silver foil, braided wire, and repoussé work; pommel: kamagong hardwood with bone inlay
tombstone
Sword (Barong), before 1916. Philippines, Sulu or Basilan. Blade: metal inlaid with brass; handle: metal with silver foil, braided wire, and repoussé work; pommel: kamagong hardwood with bone inlay; overall: 68.3 cm (26 7/8 in.); blade: 45.5 cm (17 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.730
collection
Oceanic Art
didYouKnow
The cockatoo-shaped pommel symbolizes vigilance and status among the Moro people of the southern Philippines.
creditline
Gift of J. H. Wade
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:13:51.536000
sourceId
97076
dept
Oceania
coll
Oceanic Art
med
Blade: metal inlaid with brass; handle: metal with silver foil, braided wire, and repoussé work; pommel: kamagong hardwood with bone inlay
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
c8c5dbca51fc3f20