Return of the giant Minang keris

BluErf · 15th June 2007, 02:40 PM

Finally back home, and a tired wreck. Strange that a 4-day seminar is so draining.

Ok, if David would sponsor a summer house, that might do the trick.

Regarding PenangsangII's queries, I cannot put an exact point to it, but this blade does not look like any typical Bugis keris blade to me. The cross-section is more oval than hexagonal. If you look around, you'll see that hexagonal cross-section is an important characteristic of Bugis blades. The peksi is another factor - it is much longer than any Bugis blades I have seen. The overall grace and feel of the blade does not conform to the Bugis norm. In fact, the overall shape of the blade is very similar to this (From Tengkurizan's page): http://tengkurizan.fotopic.net/p32156230.html

The hilt form is not Bugis. It looks like the Bugis pistol-grip form, but it is not. It is an in-between of a Bugis-pistol grip and a jawa demam form. This sort of hilt is associated with Central Sumatra, and probably somewhere near the coastal region. These coastal regions have a mix of Minang, Malay and Bugis influences, and is referred by the Minang in the mountainous heartland as "rantau", or crudely-speaking "overseas".

The pendoko is not the usual Bugis or Malay melaka-cup style. This sort of elaborate pendoko is characterised by having a deep "bowl", and is normally associated with Minang kerises. The gold filigree work is also not Bugis, but closer to Minang work.

Of course we may argue that if it is from a region which has Minang, Malay and Bugis influences, then it is as correct to call the keris a Bugis or a Malay keris. The Walk in Splendour book certainly tilted my opinion towards classifying it as a Minang keris.

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15th June 2007, 02:40 PM	#13
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Finally back home, and a tired wreck. Strange that a 4-day seminar is so draining. Ok, if David would sponsor a summer house, that might do the trick. Regarding PenangsangII's queries, I cannot put an exact point to it, but this blade does not look like any typical Bugis keris blade to me. The cross-section is more oval than hexagonal. If you look around, you'll see that hexagonal cross-section is an important characteristic of Bugis blades. The peksi is another factor - it is much longer than any Bugis blades I have seen. The overall grace and feel of the blade does not conform to the Bugis norm. In fact, the overall shape of the blade is very similar to this (From Tengkurizan's page): http://tengkurizan.fotopic.net/p32156230.html The hilt form is not Bugis. It looks like the Bugis pistol-grip form, but it is not. It is an in-between of a Bugis-pistol grip and a jawa demam form. This sort of hilt is associated with Central Sumatra, and probably somewhere near the coastal region. These coastal regions have a mix of Minang, Malay and Bugis influences, and is referred by the Minang in the mountainous heartland as "rantau", or crudely-speaking "overseas". The pendoko is not the usual Bugis or Malay melaka-cup style. This sort of elaborate pendoko is characterised by having a deep "bowl", and is normally associated with Minang kerises. The gold filigree work is also not Bugis, but closer to Minang work. Of course we may argue that if it is from a region which has Minang, Malay and Bugis influences, then it is as correct to call the keris a Bugis or a Malay keris. The Walk in Splendour book certainly tilted my opinion towards classifying it as a Minang keris.