Unusual balinese warangka.

[Athanase]

Hello,
I would like your opinion on this keris.
The overall shape is Balinese but there is some details on the warangka that could make more Javanese.

What do you think?

Blade length : 33cm

[David]

These markings on either side of the wrongko where the gander meets it may be unusually large and elaborate, but they seem quite in order for a Balinese keris to me. On the other hand, i have rarely if ever seen them on Javanese keris. Here are a couple of examples that have these elements well carved, though not as elaborate as yours. But on most Bali sheaths that i own there is at least some simple lines in those places as a marker.

[David]

If it is the lip at the top of the wrongko and the way it rises at the back i can see sometime Javanese is that form, but i don't think it is never seen on Bali sheaths. I made this comparison to show someone the difference in shape between Javanese and Bali gayaman some time ago. But i am still fairly confident that your sheath is Bali, or perhaps Lombok, not Javanese. Note that those flourishes at the joint with the gandar are not present on the Javanese keris in this example while rudimentary ones are present on the Balinese wrongko.

[Athanase]

Originally Posted by David

If it is the lip at the top of the wrongko and the way it rises at the back i can see sometime Javanese is that form, but i don't think it is never seen on Bali sheaths. I made this comparison to show someone the difference in shape between Javanese and Bali gayaman some time ago. But i am still fairly confident that your sheath is Bali, or perhaps Lombok, not Javanese. Note that those flourishes at the joint with the gandar are not present on the Javanese keris in this example while rudimentary ones are present on the Balinese wrongko.

Yes it's the two lips of each side of Wrongko that made me doubt because they are identical to Javanese wrongko.
On the other hand, I agree that all the other details of this sheath are perfectly Balinese.
So it would be just a Javanese influence on a Balinese scabbard?

[sirek]

Hello,
not as nicely carved as yours, but with a similar shape of the wrongko
(total lenght ± 51 cm/20 inch and a polished blade)

[Athanase]

Originally Posted by sirek

Hello,
not as nicely carved as yours, but with a similar shape of the wrongko
(total lenght ± 51 cm/20 inch and a polished blade)

I love the blade!!

In addition to its "lips", a handle and mendak in a javanese style but the rest with balinese style, your keris also asks the same question.