Is This A Royal Keris?

Battara · 9th August 2014, 06:55 PM

Greetings folks,

I occasionally see this kind of keris with Palembang ivory hilt and chased gold on top of the ganga. (see pictures)

Would this be considered a royal kerns?

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks.

Rick · 9th August 2014, 07:18 PM

No doubt they are status pieces .
Seem a bit plain for regalia though .
I would expect to see much more gold incorporated in their dress .

A. G. Maisey · 10th August 2014, 05:40 AM

A "Royal Keris" can in fact be a keris of any level of quality.

Many years ago I had the opportunity on a couple of occasions to handle keris that were kept in the storerooms of the Kraton Surakarta, some of these were pusaka keris, some were keris that had been gifted at times in the past from other rulers or dignitaries, some were just keris about which nothing was known. Almost without exception all these keris were pretty ordinary.

On the other hand, the keris that are worn by high ranking members of the Kraton hierarchy are almost always very good keris. I have two Balinese keris that were once the property of one of the Balinese rulers, both these are quite exceptional in terms of quality and value, but even so, a wealthy person could put together a keris of similar quality and value, it would not necessarily need to be a member of the royal family who put it together.

This Palembang keris is a fairly frequently seen pattern, I have a couple myself, and I sold one not all that long ago. I believe something like this would probably have been owned by a wealthy man, rather than by royalty.

Battara · 11th August 2014, 04:51 AM

Thank you both for your insights. You have confirmed some of my suspicions and cleared up other issues.

Roland_M · 20th February 2015, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Thank you both for your insights. You have confirmed some of my suspicions and cleared up other issues.

Hello,
i have read, that the silver scabbard of Royal Keris is often painted in red. I have found some tiny remains of red color on my example and hope for a good sign.

Kind regards Roland

David · 20th February 2015, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

Hello,
i have read, that the silver scabbard of Royal Keris is often painted in red. I have found some tiny remains of red color on my example and hope for a good sign.

Kind regards Roland

Well Roland, feel free to post photos of this keris if you choose, but i would not get your hopes up that your keris has a court origin based solely upon any tiny remains of red color on your sheath.

9th August 2014, 06:55 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Is This A Royal Keris? Greetings folks, I occasionally see this kind of keris with Palembang ivory hilt and chased gold on top of the ganga. (see pictures) Would this be considered a royal kerns? Any information would be helpful. Thanks. Attached Images

9th August 2014, 07:18 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	No doubt they are status pieces . Seem a bit plain for regalia though . I would expect to see much more gold incorporated in their dress .

10th August 2014, 05:40 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	A "Royal Keris" can in fact be a keris of any level of quality. Many years ago I had the opportunity on a couple of occasions to handle keris that were kept in the storerooms of the Kraton Surakarta, some of these were pusaka keris, some were keris that had been gifted at times in the past from other rulers or dignitaries, some were just keris about which nothing was known. Almost without exception all these keris were pretty ordinary. On the other hand, the keris that are worn by high ranking members of the Kraton hierarchy are almost always very good keris. I have two Balinese keris that were once the property of one of the Balinese rulers, both these are quite exceptional in terms of quality and value, but even so, a wealthy person could put together a keris of similar quality and value, it would not necessarily need to be a member of the royal family who put it together. This Palembang keris is a fairly frequently seen pattern, I have a couple myself, and I sold one not all that long ago. I believe something like this would probably have been owned by a wealthy man, rather than by royalty.

11th August 2014, 04:51 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Thank you both for your insights. You have confirmed some of my suspicions and cleared up other issues.