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Originally Posted by GIO
Dear friends,
Please apologize my ignorance, but I would have identified such keris as Balinese. What are the features which allow to distinguish Lombok from Bali keris ?
Thanks in advance
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That's a good question Gio. For many years Lombok was under Balinese rule and as such keris from the region have a very similar appearance in terms of style and dress. There are therefore times when it is pretty impossible to tell the difference barring provenance. Also many blades actually made in Bali could end up in Lombak as i believe there were far more blade producing centers in Bali.
From what i have been able to determine though, there are some features than can lead us to conclude a blade is from Lombok. Often when we see Bali-style blades with unusual (for Bali) dhapurs and pamor patterns they can well be from Lombok. I don't suppose that this excludes a more commonly recognized Bali form from also being made in Lombok, but it's harder to be sure. Also it is my understanding that the fine Bali polish was not always applied to blades in Lombok, so when the surface has a rougher finish sometimes that can be a clue to the origin of the keris. But it could also mean that it is a Bali blade that was washed outside of Bali (or a new Madura blade that is been aged and is being passed off as old
).
So from what i know (or think i know
) this first keris shows some signs of Lombok origin to me, while the second keris looks pure Balinese in style and form. That does not preclude the possibilty that it might be from Lombok, i just don't see any indicators that can verify that. Perhaps others can.
BTW Mamat, the way you have presented these here seems more like an enticement to sale than it does an opening to a informational thread about the nature of keris. I hope that is not the case. You don't seem to be posing any question in regards to them. Is there something you hope to learn about these or something you wish to inform us about them? Do you have any provenance to their origins? The walikat sheath in the second keris appears to be rather recent, no? You have not presented any photos of the full length of these blades which is indispensable in any discussion we could have on them based solely of photographic presentation. Perhaps you could upload some.
