Moro Punãl Gunong
Punãl Gunong
Mindanao, South Philippines
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1930)
Steel, silver, brass, suassa, ivory (hippopotamus, boar, elephant ?), wood
Blade: 21,6cm
Hilt & Blade: 31,8cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 32,4cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 290
Ex. Rick Stroud (RSWORD): Raleigh, North Carolina (2022)
A fine punãl Gunong of the Moro People in the Southern Philippines. The single-edged steel blade has a convexed medial ridge in entirety, tapering to a slight upward point. Silver plated cross-guard with engravings, suassa (alloy of gold and copper) ferrule, silver filigree knopf and brass collar. The ivory tusk (elephant, boar, hippopotamus?) hilt is carved in the pistol grip style.
The sheath is covered entirely in silver with the locket and chape extensively engraved with okir motifs, the applied borders wrought in suassa. Silver belt clip and wood interior. An elegant example, most likely a chief's presentation dagger (Datu).