KERIS BANTEN

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by BluErf

Thanks for sharing Ganjawulung, but one question - the keris blade itself looked rather newish. And for a museum in Java, it seems rare that the keris is out of stained, and in a polished state (ok, it has some rust).

How does the museum know it is an authetic old keris? Also, come to think about it, the sheath is in immaculate condition; very crisp. who had preserved the wood so well before the acquisition by the museum?

Just some questions out of my own curiosity.

Hullo everybody,

Ganjawulung, perhaps it would've helped if you had explained that staining was not a traditional Soenda custom. This only started to become fashionable after the beginning of the 17th. C., when the Soenda (except Banten & Cirebon) had little choice but to become part of Mataram (Islam). A lot of Djawa culture then began to enter the Soenda culture, usually brought back by Soenda ruling class who had 'served their time' in Mataram.(e.g. the Gamelan is a prime example).

If the keris is a kadaton heirloom, then it was likely returned by the Dutch. Kadaton kerises disappeared after the dissolution of the Banten Sultanate. Some came to be in the possession of Chinese merchants. Others were already in Dutch museums.

Best,