Keris Banjarmasin

VVV · 12th September 2006, 03:41 PM

I have just posted the last Keris that I acquired this Summer on the Kampungnet.
It happens to be two Keris from Banjarmasin which fascinated me because of my interest in Borneo blades and culture.
Please have a look at and I would appreciate your comments where I am mistaken or where I have questions.
You don't have to be a registered member at the Kampungnet to write comments.

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

BluErf also has a beautiful Banjarmasin hilted Keris of the rare Kerdas version, see this link.

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

It would be great if other forumites also could share their pictures of other Banjarmasin Keris in this thread for reference of hilt and sheath variations.

Michael

Rick · 12th September 2006, 03:58 PM

Hopefully Michael , people will leave their comments here also; this is why we're here after all .

Rick

VVV · 12th September 2006, 04:17 PM

Sorry Rick,

Of course all should leave their comments first of all here.

Michael

drdavid · 13th September 2006, 09:42 AM

Dear Michael and other forumites, please excuse my very novice questions (actually they will continue to be novice for a long time I suspect), what are the typical characteristics of Banjarmasin Keris. From what I can see the hilt shape and heavy use of cut gems seems common. What else would be reasonably common features.
thank you
Drdavid

David · 13th September 2006, 02:33 PM

As one novice to another DrD, your questions are appreciated.

These are not a keris form i know all that much about, but i would assume that the jeweled hilt variety, while most easily recognizible, would not necessarily be common since the jewels are an obvious sign of wealth. I would imagine that Michaels third example is probably more common.
Is the ID of these keris based solely on the dress. To my eye the first 2 look to be at least Jawa influenced keris if not actually from there. Michaels third example is obviously Bugis and BluErf's is IDed as coming from Buton (Sulawesi) with a Banjarmasin hilt, so it is Bugis also. Was there much Keris forging in Banjarmasin and did they ever develop any particular blade forms that can be IDed as specifically Banjarmasin?

VVV · 13th September 2006, 10:05 PM

Drdavid and David,

From the sources I have read it seems as if the typical characteristics of a Banjarmasin Keris is the dress (hilt and sheath).

The older blades were usually imported, mostly from Central Java. After Islam was introduced Bugis and Malay influence increased.
But a few of the blades were also locally produced in the style of the other regions.

The reason diamonds are used in abundance was because they were found in large amounts in the nearby Matapura. So probably they were relatively cheap? Usually they are not of a very high quality.
Also it's quite common that the Mendak is integrated in the hilt. The no 2, Garuda, example was the most popular one of the diamond and gold hilts.

The sheaths comes in several variations but the typical Banjarmasin sheath is the chubby Gayaman version that's smaller than the Javanese versions. A bit like a cross of the Gayaman and the crescent-shaped Sumatran/Malay Wrangka (Tangala/Sabit Bulan).
Like Gayo Keris it seems as if there was a lot of individual taste in the orders of the dress. That's why I was curious to see other Banjarmasin Keris on this thread.

Obviously Banjarmasin was a prosperous outpost because of the natural resources and the trading. So those that made a fortune there developed their own local hilt fashion that would have made even Liberace RIP happy.

Michael

12th September 2006, 03:41 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Keris Banjarmasin I have just posted the last Keris that I acquired this Summer on the Kampungnet. It happens to be two Keris from Banjarmasin which fascinated me because of my interest in Borneo blades and culture. Please have a look at and I would appreciate your comments where I am mistaken or where I have questions. You don't have to be a registered member at the Kampungnet to write comments. http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php BluErf also has a beautiful Banjarmasin hilted Keris of the rare Kerdas version, see this link. http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php It would be great if other forumites also could share their pictures of other Banjarmasin Keris in this thread for reference of hilt and sheath variations. Michael Attached Images Last edited by VVV; 12th September 2006 at 03:53 PM. Reason: Wrong order of pictures

13th September 2006, 09:42 AM	#4
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	novice question Dear Michael and other forumites, please excuse my very novice questions (actually they will continue to be novice for a long time I suspect), what are the typical characteristics of Banjarmasin Keris. From what I can see the hilt shape and heavy use of cut gems seems common. What else would be reasonably common features. thank you Drdavid

13th September 2006, 10:05 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Drdavid and David, From the sources I have read it seems as if the typical characteristics of a Banjarmasin Keris is the dress (hilt and sheath). The older blades were usually imported, mostly from Central Java. After Islam was introduced Bugis and Malay influence increased. But a few of the blades were also locally produced in the style of the other regions. The reason diamonds are used in abundance was because they were found in large amounts in the nearby Matapura. So probably they were relatively cheap? Usually they are not of a very high quality. Also it's quite common that the Mendak is integrated in the hilt. The no 2, Garuda, example was the most popular one of the diamond and gold hilts. The sheaths comes in several variations but the typical Banjarmasin sheath is the chubby Gayaman version that's smaller than the Javanese versions. A bit like a cross of the Gayaman and the crescent-shaped Sumatran/Malay Wrangka (Tangala/Sabit Bulan). Like Gayo Keris it seems as if there was a lot of individual taste in the orders of the dress. That's why I was curious to see other Banjarmasin Keris on this thread. Obviously Banjarmasin was a prosperous outpost because of the natural resources and the trading. So those that made a fortune there developed their own local hilt fashion that would have made even Liberace RIP happy. Michael Last edited by VVV; 14th September 2006 at 09:23 AM. Reason: translation error

12th September 2006, 03:58 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,291	Hopefully Michael , people will leave their comments here also; this is why we're here after all . Rick

12th September 2006, 04:17 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Sorry Rick, Of course all should leave their comments first of all here. Michael

13th September 2006, 02:33 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,121	As one novice to another DrD, your questions are appreciated. These are not a keris form i know all that much about, but i would assume that the jeweled hilt variety, while most easily recognizible, would not necessarily be common since the jewels are an obvious sign of wealth. I would imagine that Michaels third example is probably more common. Is the ID of these keris based solely on the dress. To my eye the first 2 look to be at least Jawa influenced keris if not actually from there. Michaels third example is obviously Bugis and BluErf's is IDed as coming from Buton (Sulawesi) with a Banjarmasin hilt, so it is Bugis also. Was there much Keris forging in Banjarmasin and did they ever develop any particular blade forms that can be IDed as specifically Banjarmasin?