Bali keris ?

KLUNGKLUNG · 8th May 2014, 12:15 PM

Another recently purchased keris. It came dressed up in a Djogja sarong with a new Sandang walikat but I was puzzled by it as my first impression told me this is an old Bali blade fitted in a wrong sarong. The blade is shiny / smooth which could indicate its Balinese origin however the sorsoran is different and so it might be misleading? The peksi showing wear and tear and is tall and sturdy. In the meantime I found a fitting Balinese dress but maybe I have to undress it once more?
Size of the blade: 36,5 cm ( without peksi).
The pamor is very clear and a slewah type: one side showing Lar gangisr and the other Ulur lulut. Correct me if I am wrong.
The Kembang Kacang is bulging but not welded afterwards ( pamor visible)
The strange cup shaped mendak ( or is it a selut?) with a few old inten is a question mark and might be Sumatran?

KLUNGKLUNG · 8th May 2014, 12:18 PM

Additional pics....

Sajen · 8th May 2014, 01:43 PM

Hello,

I would guess also Bali or Lombok for this blade, but not sure.

Regards,
Detlef

GIO · 8th May 2014, 02:07 PM

Java North coast ?

David · 8th May 2014, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIO

Java North coast ?

Gio, do you mean the blade or the mendak?

A. G. Maisey · 9th May 2014, 06:38 AM

I'm not prepared to offer any opinion on point of origin on the basis of the photo, but I will remark that it is more than a little unusual to find pamor work of this nature in a Balinese blade, particularly an older Balinese blade.

Yes, the blade does have a polished surface, but so did Javanese blades in the distant past. If this keris came into Europe a long time ago it might well be Javanese.

The pamor work is very, very refined work, its the quality I expect to see in one of the better Madura blades of the current era.

Possibly this keris requires more than a cursory examination before we can attempt to fix point of origin.

GIO · 11th May 2014, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Gio, do you mean the blade or the mendak?

Apologize for the late answer, David.
I intended to mean both the blade and the mendak, but mine was only an hypothesis, after excluding other options.

David · 8th May 2014, 02:06 PM

I also agree that is not a Javanese blade and would place it either in Bali or Lombok. I'm leaning toward Lombak.
Pretty cool tangkis blade (a different pamor on each side).
That is also an interesting mendak. Not sure about Sumatran. I think it might more likely be of Maduran or Northern Javanese.

8th May 2014, 12:15 PM	#1
KLUNGKLUNG Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 24	Bali keris ? Another recently purchased keris. It came dressed up in a Djogja sarong with a new Sandang walikat but I was puzzled by it as my first impression told me this is an old Bali blade fitted in a wrong sarong. The blade is shiny / smooth which could indicate its Balinese origin however the sorsoran is different and so it might be misleading? The peksi showing wear and tear and is tall and sturdy. In the meantime I found a fitting Balinese dress but maybe I have to undress it once more? Size of the blade: 36,5 cm ( without peksi). The pamor is very clear and a slewah type: one side showing Lar gangisr and the other Ulur lulut. Correct me if I am wrong. The Kembang Kacang is bulging but not welded afterwards ( pamor visible) The strange cup shaped mendak ( or is it a selut?) with a few old inten is a question mark and might be Sumatran? Attached Images

8th May 2014, 12:18 PM	#2
KLUNGKLUNG Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 24	Additional pics.... Attached Images

8th May 2014, 01:43 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,125	Hello, I would guess also Bali or Lombok for this blade, but not sure. Regards, Detlef

8th May 2014, 02:07 PM	#4
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	Java North coast ?

9th May 2014, 06:38 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,964	I'm not prepared to offer any opinion on point of origin on the basis of the photo, but I will remark that it is more than a little unusual to find pamor work of this nature in a Balinese blade, particularly an older Balinese blade. Yes, the blade does have a polished surface, but so did Javanese blades in the distant past. If this keris came into Europe a long time ago it might well be Javanese. The pamor work is very, very refined work, its the quality I expect to see in one of the better Madura blades of the current era. Possibly this keris requires more than a cursory examination before we can attempt to fix point of origin.

8th May 2014, 02:06 PM	#8
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,199	I also agree that is not a Javanese blade and would place it either in Bali or Lombok. I'm leaning toward Lombak. Pretty cool tangkis blade (a different pamor on each side). That is also an interesting mendak. Not sure about Sumatran. I think it might more likely be of Maduran or Northern Javanese.