Another Acquisition--Keris style spear

MichaelZWilliamson · 7th November 2018, 12:39 AM

This came from a friend's estate. I have little info beyond that.

David · 7th November 2018, 12:51 AM

Michael, this is not a keris so i am going to transfer it over to the regular Ethno forum. This is called a Tombak and it is nice to see such a complete one with the sheath, shaft and end piece intact.

MichaelZWilliamson · 7th November 2018, 05:46 AM

Thanks very much.

Henk · 7th November 2018, 08:29 AM

Very nice tombak. The relief at the base of the blade was gilded. The technique is called kinatah. To bring it back in its original state the blade should be treated with warangan.

Rick · 7th November 2018, 03:33 PM

Not to mention, it seems to have a separate metuk which is the iron collar at the base of the blade which I take to be (at the very least) an indication of the smith's skill.

MichaelZWilliamson · 7th November 2018, 03:35 PM

Can anyone read the label on the back of the scabbard?

MichaelZWilliamson · 21st November 2018, 05:03 PM

From an Indonesian friend (Actually, wife of a friend. He's American, she worked at the Indonesian embassy and lives in the US now)

Tombak (spear) Pendawa Lima (orig. five characters/brothers from the Mahabharata Hindu epic. In keris speak, it is the 5 undulations/curves in a keris)
Pamor Rembang. Pamor is the patterns of the blade, created because of the melding of two or more different iron (you are a smith, so I think you know what I am talking about, the pattern can look like the pattern when there is oil in water. Rembang is a small city in the northern part of East Java, it could indicate that's where the smith is, or the "school" or style. Pare is a city in the central part of East Java. It indicates two different cities hundreds of miles apart. The blade is from Rembang, but could be "assembled" in Pare, or it could be that the spear has been residing in Pare. The whole island of Java were once under the Kingdom of Kediri. It doesn't show dates. --Adiati

7th November 2018, 12:39 AM	#1
MichaelZWilliamson Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 50	Another Acquisition--Keris style spear This came from a friend's estate. I have little info beyond that. Attached Images

7th November 2018, 12:51 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Michael, this is not a keris so i am going to transfer it over to the regular Ethno forum. This is called a Tombak and it is nice to see such a complete one with the sheath, shaft and end piece intact.

7th November 2018, 05:46 AM	#3
MichaelZWilliamson Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 50	Thanks very much.

7th November 2018, 08:29 AM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Very nice tombak. The relief at the base of the blade was gilded. The technique is called kinatah. To bring it back in its original state the blade should be treated with warangan.

7th November 2018, 03:33 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Not to mention, it seems to have a separate metuk which is the iron collar at the base of the blade which I take to be (at the very least) an indication of the smith's skill.

7th November 2018, 03:35 PM	#6
MichaelZWilliamson Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 50	Can anyone read the label on the back of the scabbard?

21st November 2018, 05:03 PM	#7
MichaelZWilliamson Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 50	From an Indonesian friend (Actually, wife of a friend. He's American, she worked at the Indonesian embassy and lives in the US now) Tombak (spear) Pendawa Lima (orig. five characters/brothers from the Mahabharata Hindu epic. In keris speak, it is the 5 undulations/curves in a keris) Pamor Rembang. Pamor is the patterns of the blade, created because of the melding of two or more different iron (you are a smith, so I think you know what I am talking about, the pattern can look like the pattern when there is oil in water. Rembang is a small city in the northern part of East Java, it could indicate that's where the smith is, or the "school" or style. Pare is a city in the central part of East Java. It indicates two different cities hundreds of miles apart. The blade is from Rembang, but could be "assembled" in Pare, or it could be that the spear has been residing in Pare. The whole island of Java were once under the Kingdom of Kediri. It doesn't show dates. --Adiati