Hilt ID
 

I got this clear horn keris hilt. From where ? and what kind of hilt ?
Thank You for any help.
Paolo

hmmm....that is both cool and freaky.
Perhaps a "Lord of the Ring" Gollum hilt. "My Precious...." ;) :D

It's very worn by the use, but the face, more than Gollum, rembers to me the traditional Cirebon ancestor/raksasa/prince , not so hairs and body..... surely not Cirebon, may be Sumatra ..... a kind of Jawa Demam ? but hasn't the "shawl over the shoulder .....
Paolo

Paolo, i am not sure we can lump "ancestor/rakasa/prince" all into one category. :shrug:
Certainly i think we can see some resemblance to the raksasa or buta hilt form, thought the hands in those seem to most generally grip or rest upon the knees.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=buta+hilts

Very nice and interesting hilt! And a very rare material. My first thought when I see it was Sumatra. Is it possible to see a picture from the carving up from the head?

Regards,

Detlef

Thank You David, very interesting thread. I'm really pragmatic; I wish catalogue all.... but i see that for Archipelago hilts, kerises and weapons is quite difficult.
I don't think to have a great hilt, but I got it for the clear horn ( it seems to me quite peculiar) and for the form it had ( IMO dued to extended use ).
I don't know why but I vote Sumatra
Paolo

Bad light, the pics are the best i could do.
Paolo

Hi Paolo,

my "feeling" says also Sumatra but there are some other possibilitys like Cirebon or Sumbawa. :shrug:
Maybe not a "great hilt" but I am a little bit green with envy! ;)

Regards,

Detlef

Thank You Detlef

I am also enjoying it quite a bit. :)

So that is why they sometimes call it "green buffalo horn". :)

Very attractive hilt in an unusual material.
I am not that educated in style forms and origins etc.
But as for the wear of the hilt. I dont think the face was worn down to this smooth surface. the details on the top and back are in prestine sharp condition.
I rather have the feeling that the face is not yet finished for some reason.
Somebody started to carve the eyes and maybe realised that he would not have sufficient material to carve the image he had in mind :shrug: :confused:

Best regards,
Willem

I agree. Given how this handle would be held, wear should be along the spine of the figure... :shrug:

If I might offer an idea; possibly there were inserts where the eyes are . :shrug:

Hullo everybody:)

I tend to support Rick's suggestion. I'd even go so far as to suggest that the inserted 'eyes' were 'sparklers'. Has anyone considered that this figure is a representation of a female?

There are those who believe that buffalo horn tends to turn 'brownish'/caramel-coloured with age (after about 100 yrs). This colour tends to turn 'whitish'/'milky' with further aging.

Best,

I can't send now a detail of the eye (photocamera discharged), but looking carefully eyelashes are carved and below there is a smooth surface, but, IMO the only way to attach something is glueing it.
Why You say is a female figure ? Pheraps the large abdome = pregnant ?
Paolo

Here are the close up.
Paolo

Okay, possibly a little horn loss under one/both eyes ?
(I see the new pics)
Perhaps they bulged originally and they have fallen or broken off .

I think Lombok in origin; a feeling . :shrug:
I wonder if this hilt represents a metamorphosis in process as it is so vague in form except on the back where it is very detailed .

The forming of a Kocet Kocetan ? ;)

We can only guess what the carver was thinking .

IMO this hilt could come from Sumbawa......or Lombok

I migh be late :)
I have seen the flower model at the top and back carved made in Lombok. The material from buffalo horn with special color that called " tanggek cemaning "

Never too late! So it might be Lombok.
Paolo