Bugis Chieftain's Keris: does it exist?

[Battara]

Also Oriental-arms calls these Bugis keris chieftain's:

www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=1306

www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=2469

Any truth to this attribution?

[Battara]

I think it was Adni from Malay Gallery that said alluded to the width and size of the wrangka is what designates a chieftain's keris. What do you folks think (since I am not sure)?

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Battara

Also Oriental-arms calls these Bugis keris chieftain's:

www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=1306

www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=2469

Any truth to this attribution?

Sheath form, looks like a Bugis Chieftain, but blade does not qualify as one. The second piece, I'm very familiar. It's in my possesion.. The blade although looks thick, the entire ensemble is small. (( see here for more details )) .

[Battara]

Thank you. Helpful. But what then makes for a chieftain's blade?

[khalifah muda]

Originally Posted by Battara

Thank you. Helpful. But what then makes for a chieftain's blade?

To my experience, it should be a thick, stoud, a medium length, slender and very close luks.

[Battara]

Very helpful, thank you. Is it possible to not have luks at all but be a straight blade?

[khalifah muda]

Originally Posted by Battara

Very helpful, thank you. Is it possible to not have luks at all but be a straight blade?

It is possible but not seen so far. Luks represent certain status for individuals. For 'Chieftain', which means 'Penghulu' in Bahasa, is a man of status, sure there's luk.

[Battara]

Thank you for answering my question. Again, there is little information in the books about this subject.

[khalifah muda]

Another example in my possesion.

[A. G. Maisey]

and I have its brother

[henri]

My last buy of what some call " chieftain keris " . Some restoration made to this keris bought in very poor condition ( silver features ) and tried to clean and rejuvenate the faded goldish flowers painted on the scabbard . Blade is 99 % original to scabbard .

[Jean]

Originally Posted by henri

My last buy of what some call " chieftain keris " . Some restoration made to this keris bought in very poor condition ( silver features ) and tried to clean and rejuvenate the faded goldish flowers painted on the scabbard . Blade is 99 % original to scabbard .

Hello Henri,
Excellent piece also with original sheath and very nice hilt but this Bugis blade seems of standard proportions as compared to the criterias defined by Khalifah Muda? (thick, stout, slender and very close luks).
Regards

[David]

A lot of nice examples going up, but frankly i'm not convinced that we are any closer to answering José's initial question. Certainly a form of dress exists which collectors at least have seen fit to tag as "chieftain" keris. I have seen a couple of posts that begin "i have heard" or some other unsubstantiated claim, but nothing that nails down that a keris of a certain width with 7 luks in one of these fat, wide sheaths is definitely a "chieftain" keris and not simply that of a wealthy merchant or man of means.

[Jean]

Originally Posted by khalifah muda

Another example in my possesion.

Very nice piece, congratuations! What is the hilt materials? (looks like marine ivory but which type?).
Would this blade qualify for a Chieftain kris? It is 33.5 cm long and housed in a standard Bugis sheath from Sulawesi (the tip was damaged and replaced).
Regards