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Sword (Barong)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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 ivory pommel, inlaid with black hardwood, takes the form of a stylized cockatoo ( kakatua ). This feature, along with the finely worked horn grip, indicates that this was a prestige weapon owned by a member of the warrior nobility.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineSword (Barong), c. 1800s. Philippines. Blade: steel; handle: silver with braided wire; pommel: ivory with carabao horn inlay; overall: 64.2 cm (25 1/4 in.); blade: 42 cm (16 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.754
