Old Cirebon keris

[BluErf]

Sharing this keris I bought off ebay recently. Looks like an old Cirebon keris. The original hilt had its nose and face chewed off by mice. I replaced it with a similar hilt from my collection.

I always wanted to have an example of this old keris form because the sheath form seemed to be the preceding form for later Central Javanese sheath forms, as well as Bugis, Malay sheath forms.

[Sajen]

Hello Kai Wee,

nice to read again here from you!

I think that I remember this keris. Certainly a very old keris but I am not sure about the Cirebon attribution, could be a Banten keris. But North/West Java origin for sure.

Regards,

Detlef

[BluErf]

Hello Detlef,

Indeed, it looks like some of the kerises from Jensen's book. My understanding is that Banten and Cirebon were founded by the same person, so similarities in style would be within expectation. But I would admit I don't really know, and views would be welcome.

[BluErf]

I mentioned in another thread my hypothesis that the tajong evolved from Cirebon kerises. Here's an early coteng keris with a sheath that is reminiscent of old Cirebon style. The hilt is probably younger than the sheath, but of a older form, which is closer to the Cirebon rasaksha/Garuda hilts, with its shorter nose and similar posture.

[Marcokeris]

Stunning !!! BluErf

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

BluErf, I commend you on your hypothesis and wish you every success!

Perhaps you may wish to consider:

Focusing some energies on the period c.1600CE
- were there any refugees who became local potentates in the Patani-Songkhla area? If so, where from?
- is there evidence for this type of hilt during this period or, indeed, earlier?
- Sunda and northern Kalimantan were probably the last 'colonies' of Sri Wijaya (15thC), hence sharing a lot with other former 'colonies'.

To be pedantic, it was indeed the SULTANATES of Banten and Cirebon which were founded by Hidayatullah, with himself as the Sultan of Cirebon and his son Hasannudin as the Sultan of Banten. Prior to this, both areas were part of the Sunda confederation (thus, Sundanese), with Cirebon seceding prior to becoming a Sultanate. BTW, Hidayatullah himself was half Sundanese, his mother being the daughter of Silihwangi (I), while his father was Egyptian/Arab (governor of Egypt?).

So, in terms of keris, it is no surprise to find similarities among former areas of Sunda. As a matter of fact, I would extend that to areas where the Sundanese plied their trade for centuries: such as along the northern coast of Java right through to Nusa Tenggara; also the area of Lampung, with which Sunda had a filial relationship.
Whether something is from either Banten or Cirebon, unless very specific, can become a purely academic debate.

Best,