Dear Jean, Gustav and Alan,

thank you for respond and opinion. I agree with Alan, I am as well never have seen a such blackened ivory hilt before but all I have seen before were very worn. And agree with Gustav and Alan that it could good be possible that it is an other material as I have hoped to see. :shrug: But as you know I like to gamble by ebay. :D And the price I have paid (http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-VINTAGE-BA...vip=true&rt=nc) was one which is ok for a gamble. We will see if it was winning gamble when I have received it. :)

Regards,

Detlef

Yes Detlef, $100 is not much to gamble. No matter what the hilt is made from, the total object is probably worth what you paid for it. I used to buy similar objects at a similar level many years ago, its probably a good learning exercise, but its empirical learning. I'm certain that if you remain interested in keris, that sooner or later you will find that your money is better protected and your collecting experience enhanced by buying from slightly more reliable sources than ebay. Living in Europe as you do, I feel that you would find many available sources if you put in the time to look.

You're correct Alan, I have used such sources and still use them but on the other hand I've got keris & keris handles from ebay by prices I would have paid a lot more by this sources, remember this: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=tajong or this: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=donoriko.


Best regards,

Detlef

Yes, I guess you're right Detlef. I sometimes tend to forget that not everybody has either the same taste, nor access to the same sources that I have.

My apologies for questioning your wisdom.

I still gamble now and then on eBay. I would say i've "won" that gamble more than lost. This figurative hilt and keris were an eBay purchase at a superb deal. No sheath :-( , which probably kept the bidders away.

I should note that José added that moonstone ring on the hilt. This sliver piece was missing when i purchased it.

Very good eye Gustav, you have been correct. Learning lesson! :D

hmmm....so is it a composite casting... :confused:

Yes, David, indeed. But have luck, the sheath coming with the keris fit very well with a single keris blade I have. :)

Regards,

Detlef

Banjarmasin

Java

These last 2 postings show nice hilts Marco, but they don't quite meet the definition of "figural". Certainly they have features that are meant, in their abstract way, to hint at human or animal form, but to my mind these are abstract hilts attempting to disguise the figural form probably due to Islamic restriction of such depiction.

No comment.

Some more.

more

Figures

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Hello Marco,
Striking & nice pictures, thanks!
Regards

Nice ivory hilt from museum Nusantara in Delft.
The museum will close next week 6th january due to lack of funds... :( :shrug:

Bali, newly made.

Nice . :)
I like these polychrome handles .

Figural
 

Like

I like too :) :)

Me 3. :)

I like 4 delayed x-mas present.

ps do you have more pictures / back / side ?

I'll jump on the bandwagon...yowzah!!! :D

A little unusual - great example!

I hope I don't annoy anyone by posting this guy of David's again:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...id=95818&stc=1

I just think it is the coolest keris hilt I've ever seen! I don't know what it is about him, but he just set's something off in me and makes me smile at the same time. I mean, he looks like a shark with a handlebar mustache for gods sake!! :D

Rick could you tell us something about it - new, old? Do you know who he's meant to represent?

The Hanuman in horn just above is also really nice and crisply carved IMO. You're very lucky to have these guys with you.


Best wishes and may this thread live on forever, - Thor

Well, no annoyance for me Thor...he makes me smile as well. This hilt is contemporary in manufacture, but i have seen at least one genuinely old version of this character in almost the exact same pose so i'd say it has a traditional basis. Not sure exactly which wayang character this is or if it is just meant to reference the wayang in general.
I am not sure which hanuman in horn you are referring to. Are you sure it is hanuman and are you sure it is horn? :shrug:

Mmm, no and no. :D I guess it could also be stained ivory or dark wood although it seems the material looks really hard. In regards to the deity/figure, I don't own any hilts myself, so just trying to slowly learn from you guys here on the forum. :) It's this fellow I mean: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...id=95812&stc=1

Thank you for the info on the shark guy - I don't suppose you know the name of the artist? Someone like the shark guy could easily start a collection of hilts with me. Although I guess that's another slippery slope, and I am trying sooo hard to be good and focus my collecting. :D


All the best, - Thor

So sorry to fool you there Thor, but this hilt is made of an ebony wood. The little insets are ivory though. :)

Not sure about this one. The handle is wrapping like Jawa Demam but looks like a snake? Komodo or something the carver's thinking?

:)

picture taken last week at the Gemeente Museum Den Haag.

Cirebon Hilt
 

Picture taken at Ganjawulung's Collection...

One of my favorites.

Gavin

Almost reminds one of the Green Man from another culture .

Cirebon and West Java....
 

Some cirebonese hilts with 'buta bajang' motives and also 'pulungan'...

Ganjawulung Collection

Cirebon and Tegal
 

Some cirebonese 'buta bajang' hilt and Rajamala of Tegal, Central Java....

Ganjawulung Collection