Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Bjorn · 23rd December 2013, 12:45 PM

Hi Dave,

This piece seems to previously have been sold via a shop that also has a web presence (I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to mention the name of the shop here). As you are asking for details here, I imagine that you did not buy it directly from them. This is the information they provided for this keris:

A very fine example of a keris from the southern Sulawesi regions of Bugis. Handle in the kerdas form is fully encased with thick silver using fine filigree and granulation techniques, and overlaid at places with18K gold petals works. It is also studded with two red rubies at the front “eyes”. The sheath is also fully encased using similar gold and silver techniques, and has the rare toil-toli or loop like attachments (meant for high status wear) at the front having rubies and emeralds profusions.

Thick and very sturdy straight blade with a slightly angular profile and plain base features or perabots, and a hexagonal cross section, has an overall shape or dapor called sepokal in Malay.

Pamor patterns are rather complicated and are arranged in the miring technique. At the base, a peak like formation is called pamor ujung gunung. Above it a single central pamor line is called pamor sada saler, and at the sides are pamor unthuk banyu or water bubbles.

The pamor ujung gunung is said to enhance the owner’s status and the pamor sada saler is said to guide the owner, while the pamor unthuk banyu is said to enhance the owner’s popularity.

The blade is also very well tempered, or nyepuh, as seen from the darker shades of the blade stretching from the tip to above the base.

Condition: Very good condition.

Age: Krises are traditionally made without any date stampings or engravings of the makers' name. Although a kris smith or "empu" has his own styles configured together with the dapor and especially the ganjar (cross piece). Obvious age wear and tear, usage, familiarity with forms, motifs and designs, origin and history, mediums and materials used are our guidelines in determining an approximate age. This particular piece, from our experience and knowledge, should go back to middle 19th century blade with mid 20th century fittings.

23rd December 2013, 12:45 PM	#2
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	Hi Dave, This piece seems to previously have been sold via a shop that also has a web presence (I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to mention the name of the shop here). As you are asking for details here, I imagine that you did not buy it directly from them. This is the information they provided for this keris: A very fine example of a keris from the southern Sulawesi regions of Bugis. Handle in the kerdas form is fully encased with thick silver using fine filigree and granulation techniques, and overlaid at places with18K gold petals works. It is also studded with two red rubies at the front “eyes”. The sheath is also fully encased using similar gold and silver techniques, and has the rare toil-toli or loop like attachments (meant for high status wear) at the front having rubies and emeralds profusions. Thick and very sturdy straight blade with a slightly angular profile and plain base features or perabots, and a hexagonal cross section, has an overall shape or dapor called sepokal in Malay. Pamor patterns are rather complicated and are arranged in the miring technique. At the base, a peak like formation is called pamor ujung gunung. Above it a single central pamor line is called pamor sada saler, and at the sides are pamor unthuk banyu or water bubbles. The pamor ujung gunung is said to enhance the owner’s status and the pamor sada saler is said to guide the owner, while the pamor unthuk banyu is said to enhance the owner’s popularity. The blade is also very well tempered, or nyepuh, as seen from the darker shades of the blade stretching from the tip to above the base. Condition: Very good condition. Age: Krises are traditionally made without any date stampings or engravings of the makers' name. Although a kris smith or "empu" has his own styles configured together with the dapor and especially the ganjar (cross piece). Obvious age wear and tear, usage, familiarity with forms, motifs and designs, origin and history, mediums and materials used are our guidelines in determining an approximate age. This particular piece, from our experience and knowledge, should go back to middle 19th century blade with mid 20th century fittings.