Wallace Collection Keris

David · 30th November 2012, 05:52 AM

Anyone have any more info on this unusual keris in the Wallace Collection in London? Has some rather unfamiliar elements for me.

Naga Sasra · 30th November 2012, 01:16 PM

David,
I believe this piece to be Wallace Collection inventory # 1741 it is described as follows;

1741 Dagger (Kris). The hilt is fashioned of blued steel with a grooved hatched and key pattern design chased and inlaid with gold. The blade, 10 1/4 in. long, is of spatular form, widening towards the hilt, where the outline is moulded and the surface russeted, with a design of conventional flowers engraved and thickly plated with gold. This same decoration runs down the centre of the blade.
Blade, Malay, 17th century. Hilt of French workmanship adapted from another weapon. Early 18th century.

The above is the description from the Wallace Collection. Interesting combination of assets.
Erik

David · 30th November 2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naga Sasra

Hilt of French workmanship adapted from another weapon. Early 18th century.

Thanks...that explains most of my confusion...

A. G. Maisey · 30th November 2012, 11:09 PM

Good to to see you posting here again, Erik.

It explains the hilt, certainly, but it does not explain the blade.

In my opinion this blade is not of Malay manufacture.

The British in the colonial days were wont dub just about all SE Asians as "Malay", but this blade is not Indonesian either --- or as it was back then from the Dutch East Indies.

The blade angle, pawakan, the decline of the edges to the point, the gold work, none of these things look like a true keris. None of them. This weapon simply does not look like any keris I've ever seen. Yes, it has some keris-like features, but that's where it stops.

I rather feel that this blade might have been made in India to the order of a Britain, or European.

David · 30th November 2012, 11:13 PM

Thanks for your input Alan. Yes, my confusion did not stop at the hilt. Glad you know that i may have good reason being confused.

Battara · 1st December 2012, 04:46 AM

Very helpful Alan and Erik, thank you.

I had always wondered about this particular piece for years.

Mystery solved.

Jussi M. · 30th November 2012, 01:29 PM

Kukri meets keris...

Andrew · 4th December 2012, 03:26 PM

I am pleased that David brought this up for discussion here. When I first saw the original thread in the Ethno forum, I almost posted a "what are we seeing here?" comment about this weapon before being distracted by far less interesting but more demanding things (i.e. work

).

(Also good to see you again, Erik. How are you?)

30th November 2012, 05:52 AM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	Wallace Collection Keris Anyone have any more info on this unusual keris in the Wallace Collection in London? Has some rather unfamiliar elements for me. Attached Images

30th November 2012, 01:16 PM	#2
Naga Sasra Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boca Raton, Florida, USA Posts: 108	David, I believe this piece to be Wallace Collection inventory # 1741 it is described as follows; 1741 Dagger (Kris). The hilt is fashioned of blued steel with a grooved hatched and key pattern design chased and inlaid with gold. The blade, 10 1/4 in. long, is of spatular form, widening towards the hilt, where the outline is moulded and the surface russeted, with a design of conventional flowers engraved and thickly plated with gold. This same decoration runs down the centre of the blade. Blade, Malay, 17th century. Hilt of French workmanship adapted from another weapon. Early 18th century. The above is the description from the Wallace Collection. Interesting combination of assets. Erik

30th November 2012, 11:09 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,893	Good to to see you posting here again, Erik. It explains the hilt, certainly, but it does not explain the blade. In my opinion this blade is not of Malay manufacture. The British in the colonial days were wont dub just about all SE Asians as "Malay", but this blade is not Indonesian either --- or as it was back then from the Dutch East Indies. The blade angle, pawakan, the decline of the edges to the point, the gold work, none of these things look like a true keris. None of them. This weapon simply does not look like any keris I've ever seen. Yes, it has some keris-like features, but that's where it stops. I rather feel that this blade might have been made in India to the order of a Britain, or European.

30th November 2012, 11:13 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	Thanks for your input Alan. Yes, my confusion did not stop at the hilt. Glad you know that i may have good reason being confused.

1st December 2012, 04:46 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Very helpful Alan and Erik, thank you. I had always wondered about this particular piece for years. Mystery solved.

30th November 2012, 01:29 PM	#7
Jussi M. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 235	Kukri meets keris...

4th December 2012, 03:26 PM	#8
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I am pleased that David brought this up for discussion here. When I first saw the original thread in the Ethno forum, I almost posted a "what are we seeing here?" comment about this weapon before being distracted by far less interesting but more demanding things (i.e. work ). (Also good to see you again, Erik. How are you?)