Metal Cirebon (??) hilt

[Marcokeris]

In a Mrs. Vanna Ghiringhelli's article published some years ago on Arts of Asia magazine (tittle: keris hilt material) there is a hilt very very similar to this .
Prof. Ghiringhelli said this is a Cirebon hilt but ....i'm
IMO this hilt COULD be comes from Sumbawa.
Please, there is some kerisforum member that could help me to give news about the origin?
Thanks

[PenangsangII]

the sitting position similar to buta bajang hilt of Cirebon, but the rasaksa's face may come from anywhere thruout nusantara archipelago.... it may even be a Batak...

[Jean]

Hello Marco,
What is the materials, cast brass or bronze, or just brass/ bronze sheet on resin or wood base? I have no clear opinion about the possible origin but would agree that it does seem to be from Northern Java according to the style of decoration but also not from Sumbawa, may be a member from Lombok or Sumbawa could comment? If the piece is cast, a Batak origin looks feasible, or may be Banjarmasin? A rare and interesting piece anyway!
Best regards
Jean

[Marcokeris]

[QUOTE=Jean]Hello Marco,
What is the materials, cast brass or bronze....
Hello Jean
I think the material could be brass. Is not possible to see the core of this hilt because inside the hole there is the same material and, more inside, a lot of black tar . The hilt is a little heavy... but only little.
I don't think it can come from Batak area because the face in Batak hilts are different (the same also for the decorations)

Maybe...Sulawesi (toraja)... the little "square's reticle decorations" at the base are presents in toraja art (but also in other islands)

Marco

[Alam Shah]

Hi Marco,

An interesting hilt it is.. can you post a picture from the back, please? Like to see it in full to get a feel of it. Thanks.

The layer of alloy looks casted, probably with an inner core of a softer material. I wouldn't rule out tar-like material like damar, etc.

Does look Cirebonese.. but I'll check with some friends from the Bugis clan.

[Marcokeris]

Hi Alam
I put the pics
(inside the hole there is, from smell, a sort of bitumen... probably to hold well the pesi)
Marco

[Sajen]

Hello Marco,

very interesting hilt but I have no evidence from where this hilt may be.

Regards,

Detlef

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

Hi Alam
I put the pics
(inside the hole there is, from smell, a sort of bitumen... probably to hold well the pesi)
Marco

Hi Marco,
Yes, from the additional pics, I can see. Thanks, will revert when I have something to share..

[Jean]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

In a Mrs. Vanna Ghiringhelli's article published some years ago on Arts of Asia magazine (tittle: keris hilt material) there is a hilt very very similar to this .
Prof. Ghiringhelli said this is a Cirebon hilt but ....i'm
IMO this hilt COULD be comes from Sumbawa.
Please, there is some kerisforum member that could help me to give news about the origin?
Thanks

The hilt from Mrs Ghiringhelli is shown in page 55 (picture G 63) of the reference book from Martin Kerner "Keris-Griffe Aus Museeen Und Privatsammlungen" and it is very similar to Marco's piece indeed. It is included within the Bima hilts category although Martin does not describe it as depicting Bima and he also does not mention its estimated area of origin. He says that the piece is made from cast bronze.
Jean