Identifying Pamor for a First Keris

A. G. Maisey · 26th May 2019, 01:51 PM

When we try to guess at a geographic origin for a keris, we can only rely upon our experience of keris that we know do come from a particular geographic location.

I mean absolutely rely, without question, positively.

I have never handled even one keris that I was absolutely positive came from Sumbawa.

In fact I cannot even remember seeing a photo of even one keris that I knew without any doubt at all came from Sumbawa.

I do believe that there are keris that originated in Sumbawa, and that they look more or less Bugisy. But I cannot remember ever seeing a keris , or a photo of a keris that was identified positively as having been made in Sumbawa.

What I do know, and know without the slightest shadow of a doubt is this:-

Bugis people settled in Eastern Lombok.

Javanese people settled in Lombok, Balinese people settled in Lombok, and in fact people from a number of other locations settled in Lombok, but in smaller numbers than the Javanese, Balinese, and Bugis.

Keris from Lombok sometimes display rather extreme topographic sculpting.

This keris under discussion displays features that are attributable to a Bugis influence. It also displays very aggressive topographic sculpting.

I do not know beyond the shadow of a doubt that this keris definitely originated in Lombok. But I do think that Lombok is a more likely point of origin than any other place I can think of.

26th May 2019, 01:51 PM	#30
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	When we try to guess at a geographic origin for a keris, we can only rely upon our experience of keris that we know do come from a particular geographic location. I mean absolutely rely, without question, positively. I have never handled even one keris that I was absolutely positive came from Sumbawa. In fact I cannot even remember seeing a photo of even one keris that I knew without any doubt at all came from Sumbawa. I do believe that there are keris that originated in Sumbawa, and that they look more or less Bugisy. But I cannot remember ever seeing a keris , or a photo of a keris that was identified positively as having been made in Sumbawa. What I do know, and know without the slightest shadow of a doubt is this:- Bugis people settled in Eastern Lombok. Javanese people settled in Lombok, Balinese people settled in Lombok, and in fact people from a number of other locations settled in Lombok, but in smaller numbers than the Javanese, Balinese, and Bugis. Keris from Lombok sometimes display rather extreme topographic sculpting. This keris under discussion displays features that are attributable to a Bugis influence. It also displays very aggressive topographic sculpting. I do not know beyond the shadow of a doubt that this keris definitely originated in Lombok. But I do think that Lombok is a more likely point of origin than any other place I can think of.