The Sendai Keris

Jim McDougall · 2nd August 2010, 04:15 PM

It is interesting to note that this same mission apparantly acquired one of the earliest provenanced examples of the kastane (in the familiar sinha hilt with makaras) of which I am aware. This early example kastane is also on display in the Sendai Museum, perhaps part of the same exhibit, with this material in "The Unique Kastane Sword in Japan" by Dr. P.H.D.H. DeSilva in an article from Nov. 15,1998 listed as in the "Sunday Observer". It notes that Tsunenaga was a vassal of the Daimyo of Sendai and left on the Keicho Mission in 1613, returning in 1620, noting visits to Mexico, Madrid and Rome.

As noted, details of provenance of this, as with the keris, seem a bit vague, and acquiring these suggest visits to these places but apparantly remain unclear.

A. G. Maisey · 2nd August 2010, 11:16 PM

post deleted

to be continued

Gustav · 2nd August 2010, 11:31 PM

Very interesting thing is, the blade of this most early Kastane seems to be an imported one, there should be an european monogram on it.

A. G. Maisey · 2nd August 2010, 11:42 PM

Please accept my apologies for posting such inadequate images.

I find that I am unable to understand almost anything about a keris unless it is in a vertical orientation, rather than a horizontal orientation, in fact when I want to really look at a keris I download the image and change the orientation to that shown in this post.

Hopefully these images will be a little more useful.

BluErf · 3rd August 2010, 03:02 PM

The hilt looks most interesting! I've seen something similar of recent manufacture, and I dismissed it as a newish design. According to the dealer, the hilt came from north coast of Java.

Gustav · 3rd August 2010, 09:07 PM

The hilt is much more finer as it seems on the pictures.

Jussi M. · 15th February 2011, 07:06 PM

Time to bump a worthy thread. Can anyone say anything about the sheath?

J

Gustav · 15th February 2011, 11:02 PM

Well, this really deserves more attention, yet there is a problem with adequate online pictures, with available material a discussion here seems to be impossible. Slightly better pictures of sheath and blade, good pictures of hilt and description are to be find in Jensen's Krisdisk, chapter 7 (Bali), pages 31-33.

2nd August 2010, 11:42 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	Please accept my apologies for posting such inadequate images. I find that I am unable to understand almost anything about a keris unless it is in a vertical orientation, rather than a horizontal orientation, in fact when I want to really look at a keris I download the image and change the orientation to that shown in this post. Hopefully these images will be a little more useful. Attached Images

15th February 2011, 07:06 PM	#7
Jussi M. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 235	Time to bump a worthy thread. Can anyone say anything about the sheath? J Last edited by Jussi M.; 15th February 2011 at 10:19 PM.

2nd August 2010, 04:15 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	It is interesting to note that this same mission apparantly acquired one of the earliest provenanced examples of the kastane (in the familiar sinha hilt with makaras) of which I am aware. This early example kastane is also on display in the Sendai Museum, perhaps part of the same exhibit, with this material in "The Unique Kastane Sword in Japan" by Dr. P.H.D.H. DeSilva in an article from Nov. 15,1998 listed as in the "Sunday Observer". It notes that Tsunenaga was a vassal of the Daimyo of Sendai and left on the Keicho Mission in 1613, returning in 1620, noting visits to Mexico, Madrid and Rome. As noted, details of provenance of this, as with the keris, seem a bit vague, and acquiring these suggest visits to these places but apparantly remain unclear.

2nd August 2010, 11:16 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	post deleted to be continued

2nd August 2010, 11:31 PM	#3
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,273	Very interesting thing is, the blade of this most early Kastane seems to be an imported one, there should be an european monogram on it.

3rd August 2010, 03:02 PM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The hilt looks most interesting! I've seen something similar of recent manufacture, and I dismissed it as a newish design. According to the dealer, the hilt came from north coast of Java.

3rd August 2010, 09:07 PM	#6
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,273	The hilt is much more finer as it seems on the pictures.

15th February 2011, 11:02 PM	#8
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,273	Well, this really deserves more attention, yet there is a problem with adequate online pictures, with available material a discussion here seems to be impossible. Slightly better pictures of sheath and blade, good pictures of hilt and description are to be find in Jensen's Krisdisk, chapter 7 (Bali), pages 31-33.