Keris Holders

[A. G. Maisey]

Here are three holders that if they were met with by most keris collectors, would immediately be identified as keris holders.

But they're not.

Things other than keris are held by figural holders.

The first two holders are for tombak (spears) which are accorded almost as much respect as keris in Jawa. We rarely see keris displayed in a Javanese home, but it is not unusual to find tombak either in holders or in a ploncon (rack) in either the visitor entry room, or in the first internal room.

The third holder is a Javanese interpretation of Ganesha, and this is a holder for a payung, (song song -- krama inggil) (parasol, umbrella). In Jawa the payung is a hierarchical status indicator and is itself held in respect.

So, if we find something that we think is a keris holder, it is wise to pause and think first.

These stands are located in the Museum Radya Pustaka in Solo, Central Jawa.