Kris Handle and Lion Scabbard

[Gustav]

The lion wrongko normally comes with another kind of hilt. Also is workmanship on wrongko and hilt different, wrongko is better, more carefully carved and finished.

[David]

Originally Posted by Gustav

The lion wrongko normally comes with another kind of hilt. Also is workmanship on wrongko and hilt different, wrongko is better, more carefully carved and finished.

I agree that there does seem to be some difference in the carving style. The hilt is done well, but not quite as well as the wrongko. I don'tthink this means that they were not originally matched though. They seem to be similar wood with similar patina. I have seen this type of hilt matched with the lion before as well.
As for rarity, we do see this dress form somewhat often, but they are much more rare with this level of carving. I have seen maybe a half dozen or more that have this level of carving. Many more that are much more roughly hewn. Of course i don't get out to Dutch flea markets very much.

[sjors]

In the Netherlands, this wronko style is certainly not rare - I guess I see a pre-WW2 example every month or two (and that is without being able to visit local flea markets); many are of lesser quality though.

Realising we are a little bit spoiled with kerisses in the Netherlands I'am sorry to say but I couldn't agree more: this type of wrongko is very common and very easily found in the Netherlands.
Still today on almost every fleamarket you will find one or more of those "lionkerisses", most of the times "poorly" executeded souvenirs from Dutch soldiers who spend some time in "the Far East"...

(and to be honest or even blunt, in spite of their colleagues abroad, most Dutch collectors are not interested a bit in those lionkerisses because of their low quality and low value; most of the times they are sold for the amount of 40 or 50 American dollars or 30, 40 Euro's at the most...)

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by sjors

Realising we are a little bit spoiled with kerisses in the Netherlands I'am sorry to say but I couldn't agree more: this type of wrongko is very common and very easily found in the Netherlands.
Still today on almost every fleamarket you will find one or more of those "lionkerisses", most of the times "poorly" executeded souvenirs from Dutch soldiers who spend some time in "the Far East"...

(and to be honest or even blunt, in spite of their colleagues abroad, most Dutch collectors are not interested a bit in those lionkerisses because of their low quality and low value; most of the times they are sold for the amount of 40 or 50 American dollars or 30, 40 Euro's at the most...)

I only can speak for myself but think that Alan as well have meant old good carved lion wrongkos like the one here shown and not the hastily poor carved ones.
But maybe I should visit some fleemarkets in the Netherlands and I have good luck to find a good one!

Regards,

Detlef

[sirek]

Originally Posted by Sajen

I only can speak for myself but think that Alan as well have meant old good carved lion wrongkos like the one here shown and not the hastily poor carved ones.
But maybe I should visit some fleemarkets in the Netherlands and I have good luck to find a good one!

Regards,

Detlef

This is an example of what you will find

[simatua]

Most of the time the blades are poor quality,
sometimes you get lucky.

Here's mine which i aquired lately. It had a very rusty blade. after cleaning the pamor did come out nicely.

It had been hanging many years on a wall of an Old KNIL soldier, who brought it in the fifties to the Netherlands.

compared to many others , this is a big one 43 cm blade, total 60 cm.

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes Detlef, you're right, I was talking about well carved older examples. Something like these two:-