Do Phallic shaped Ukirans have any traditional background?

milandro · 21st July 2023, 03:58 PM

I sometimes see for sale keris ukirans shaped more or less obviously like a phallus. I always see them go very quickly which must mean that they are appreciated but is this something that has any base in a tradition or is just a gimmick ? I can't show any because what I can find are all for sale and some may be offended by the graphic nature of the images

David · 21st July 2023, 07:20 PM

Well, i wouldn't worry about offending anyone with one of these penis hilts. I think most of us have seen them. It's a good question regarding authenticity. I don't really know the answer for sure, but i can saw that i have never seen one that looks even vaguely antique.

milandro · 21st July 2023, 09:38 PM

I am glad that you think that there would be no eyes which would be offended by the vision of such thing ( while I was researching the matter on possible previous threads I did find some thread where someone took offence at something very much less graphic so I decided to err on the side of caution).

I certainly agree that all examples I have seen are certainly new but I was wondering if any connection could be found in the tradition.

After all the sexual symbology is often explained when it comes to the keris and its component parts and the lingam is no stranger to many cultures including the European.

SidJ · 23rd July 2023, 03:11 PM

Probably common knowledge to you experts but I only recently suddenly noticed that the typical Bali kris hilts are shaped like phallus. I had never noticed this before and to be honest it shocked me a bit. I cant bring myself to hold it anymore!

David · 23rd July 2023, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidJ

Probably common knowledge to you experts but I only recently suddenly noticed that the typical Bali kris hilts are shaped like phallus. I had never noticed this before and to be honest it shocked me a bit. I cant bring myself to hold it anymore!

LOL! Do you mean Bondolan hilts. I suppose anything that is longer than it is wide can be seen as being phallic. To me the bondolan hilts simply seem to be an extension of the common Javanese planar style hilts. I suppose they can be seen as phallic as well. While we are at it, the keris blade itself can also be seen as phallic. Be careful or you may have to give up collecting keris altogether.

Paul de Souza · 24th July 2023, 04:30 AM

I guess the photo speaks for itself.
I bought this at auction many years ago from a grainy photo. I thought it was a man in a helmet.

SidJ · 6th August 2023, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

LOL! Do you mean Bondolan hilts. I suppose anything that is longer than it is wide can be seen as being phallic. To me the bondolan hilts simply seem to be an extension of the common Javanese planar style hilts. I suppose they can be seen as phallic as well. While we are at it, the keris blade itself can also be seen as phallic. Be careful or you may have to give up collecting keris altogether.

Hi David
Yes this type of hilt. The glans tip bearing the pesi and the rounded pommel forming the scrotum. Immediately apparent when the hilt is separate from blade.

21st July 2023, 03:58 PM	#1
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 471	Do Phallic shaped Ukirans have any traditional background? I sometimes see for sale keris ukirans shaped more or less obviously like a phallus. I always see them go very quickly which must mean that they are appreciated but is this something that has any base in a tradition or is just a gimmick ? I can't show any because what I can find are all for sale and some may be offended by the graphic nature of the images

24th July 2023, 04:30 AM	#6
Paul de Souza Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 65	I guess the photo speaks for itself. I bought this at auction many years ago from a grainy photo. I thought it was a man in a helmet. Attached Images

21st July 2023, 07:20 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,113	Well, i wouldn't worry about offending anyone with one of these penis hilts. I think most of us have seen them. It's a good question regarding authenticity. I don't really know the answer for sure, but i can saw that i have never seen one that looks even vaguely antique.

21st July 2023, 09:38 PM	#3
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 471	I am glad that you think that there would be no eyes which would be offended by the vision of such thing ( while I was researching the matter on possible previous threads I did find some thread where someone took offence at something very much less graphic so I decided to err on the side of caution). I certainly agree that all examples I have seen are certainly new but I was wondering if any connection could be found in the tradition. After all the sexual symbology is often explained when it comes to the keris and its component parts and the lingam is no stranger to many cultures including the European.

23rd July 2023, 03:11 PM	#4
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 177	Probably common knowledge to you experts but I only recently suddenly noticed that the typical Bali kris hilts are shaped like phallus. I had never noticed this before and to be honest it shocked me a bit. I cant bring myself to hold it anymore!