Keris Hilt for comment

mykeris · 30th October 2008, 11:55 AM

I saw this strange hilt fixed to a keris on ebay (auction ended) :Item number: 200266557412 Is this hilt common? Do anybody know what motif the hilt is? Regards, TQ

Rick · 30th October 2008, 04:28 PM

There is a Javanese style hilt of similar construction (stacked spheres) could this be a regional variation ?

A. G. Maisey · 30th October 2008, 11:02 PM

This is interesting.

I first saw the Javanese style one on an old keris in a collection that had been bequeathed to the musium in the Mangkunegaraan in Solo. I later met an old m'ranggi who told me that the name of the style was Imam Bonjol, and that he had carved this style a few times before WWII.

Imam Bonjol was a 19th century hero in the struggle against Dutch colonialism.

He was from Sumatera.

I could never work out how a Javanese style hilt could finish up with the name of a Sumatran hero.

It looks to me as if the Javanese hilt is an adaptation of the Bugis type hilt we see in the ebay entry.

mykeris · 31st October 2008, 02:46 PM

Thanks Rick, Maisey, its really interesting. Could it be another version of Kerdas form?

30th October 2008, 11:55 AM	#1
mykeris Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 278	Keris Hilt for comment I saw this strange hilt fixed to a keris on ebay (auction ended) :Item number: 200266557412 Is this hilt common? Do anybody know what motif the hilt is? Regards, TQ Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 1st November 2008 at 03:43 PM. Reason: Picture added :)

30th October 2008, 04:28 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,325	There is a Javanese style hilt of similar construction (stacked spheres) could this be a regional variation ? Attached Images

30th October 2008, 11:02 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,965	This is interesting. I first saw the Javanese style one on an old keris in a collection that had been bequeathed to the musium in the Mangkunegaraan in Solo. I later met an old m'ranggi who told me that the name of the style was Imam Bonjol, and that he had carved this style a few times before WWII. Imam Bonjol was a 19th century hero in the struggle against Dutch colonialism. He was from Sumatera. I could never work out how a Javanese style hilt could finish up with the name of a Sumatran hero. It looks to me as if the Javanese hilt is an adaptation of the Bugis type hilt we see in the ebay entry.

31st October 2008, 02:46 PM	#4
mykeris Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 278	Thanks Rick, Maisey, its really interesting. Could it be another version of Kerdas form?