Keris from Madura

kayoba84 · 17th April 2017, 06:08 AM

Hi Guys,

I got this piece from local collector who was clearing his stock. Not much info on it's origin and history. Appreciate if I can get some insight from learned members here on the possible age of both blade and dressing, as well as origin (based on the handiwork style).

Regards.

A. G. Maisey · 18th April 2017, 09:27 AM

Based upon what I believe I can see in the photographs, I am of the opinion that this is a copy made between about 1988 and 2000 of a very popular dress form from the late colonial period.

The blade is recent and dates from the same period.

The mendak is old, pre-WWII, and very possibly is made from silver

Jean · 18th April 2017, 11:02 AM

I agree with Alan and just want to add that this recently made kris is in Madurese deng-udengan style. Please notice the combong (pierced through sogokan) to give the impression that the blade is very old....
Regards

kayoba84 · 18th April 2017, 12:04 PM

Thanks Alan and Jean.. Both of you confirmed my suspicions that the piece is not that old. The mendak is a pleasant surprise though.

I bought the pice coz I like the carvings on both hilt and sapir/ sheath. Very intricate compared to the average souvenir grade Madura Keris.

David · 18th April 2017, 02:09 PM

I can only add that it seems to be a nicely carved reproduction, which is not always the case with this dress form in modern times. If it had a sincerely older blade in it i might not have questioned it, especially with the old mendak attached.
The combong at the sogokan is a dead giveaway that this is a contemporary blade since it does not show any actual wear in other parts of the blade that would be associated with the formation of such erosion in this one spot.
I do like many contemporary blades, but don't appreciate when they masquerade as something they are not with added aging such as this combong.

17th April 2017, 06:08 AM	#1
kayoba84 Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 9	Keris from Madura Hi Guys, I got this piece from local collector who was clearing his stock. Not much info on it's origin and history. Appreciate if I can get some insight from learned members here on the possible age of both blade and dressing, as well as origin (based on the handiwork style). Regards. Attached Images

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18th April 2017, 09:27 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Based upon what I believe I can see in the photographs, I am of the opinion that this is a copy made between about 1988 and 2000 of a very popular dress form from the late colonial period. The blade is recent and dates from the same period. The mendak is old, pre-WWII, and very possibly is made from silver

18th April 2017, 11:02 AM	#3
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	I agree with Alan and just want to add that this recently made kris is in Madurese deng-udengan style. Please notice the combong (pierced through sogokan) to give the impression that the blade is very old.... Regards

18th April 2017, 12:04 PM	#4
kayoba84 Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 9	Thanks Alan and Jean.. Both of you confirmed my suspicions that the piece is not that old. The mendak is a pleasant surprise though. I bought the pice coz I like the carvings on both hilt and sapir/ sheath. Very intricate compared to the average souvenir grade Madura Keris.

18th April 2017, 02:09 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	I can only add that it seems to be a nicely carved reproduction, which is not always the case with this dress form in modern times. If it had a sincerely older blade in it i might not have questioned it, especially with the old mendak attached. The combong at the sogokan is a dead giveaway that this is a contemporary blade since it does not show any actual wear in other parts of the blade that would be associated with the formation of such erosion in this one spot. I do like many contemporary blades, but don't appreciate when they masquerade as something they are not with added aging such as this combong.