Pandai Saras from Kelantan/Narathiwat

BluErf · 1st January 2005, 04:53 PM

Hi Battara, glad to hear from you. I think I can guess what is going through your mind, and probably the minds of other forumnites, when they see this keris. "Interesting" is a neutral adjective to use on this keris, and 'weird' probably hits closer to heart.

I had similar reactions when I 1st saw a Kelantanese keris. I thought the greneng looks funny, sometimes like they're on steroids, and the kembang kacang looks like it will snap anytime due to ron dha incised nearly all the way through it.

But as time goes by, the style gradually works its way into my psyche, and I begin to appreciate the beauty of it. That's also why I wanted to post this keris for all to see -- to show that apart from the world of Javanese, Balinese, Bugis and Moro kerises, there lies another family of kerises with its own distinctive flavour.

nechesh · 1st January 2005, 06:15 PM

Well Kai Wee, i'm glad it was you who said it.

Truly this is a very "interesting" keris which deserves your attention and a place in your collection. I'm glad you showed it to us. For me, it just doesn't meet with my person keris aesthetic, which is much more Jawa/Bali oriented. But this is a very subjective matter and in no way is meant as a slight to your keris. It just isn't to my tastes. I do, however, like your second example very much. The lines flow better for me and the overall experiece is much more pleasing to my eye. But you make a good point about the distinctiveness of this style as opposed to the Jawa, Bali, Bugis and Moro type of keris. Thanks for showing and say as weird as you are.

BluErf · 9th January 2005, 06:04 AM

Finally, a Sunday morning with no rain and sufficient sunlight for me to take my archival photos. We've been having day-long drizzles for quite a number of days, and way too much morning rain.

Here's the 'whole package'.

The hulu pekaka is of wood, and to my knowledge, quite rare (compared to marine ivory ones). I bet its because wood ones disintegrate more easily than marine ivory ones. Unfortunately, this example of mine is on the rough side. At least its the correct form.

Raja Muda · 19th January 2005, 02:59 AM

Congratulations on owning a beauty, especially one with a genuine aged sarung of good kemuning and hulu. Still, somehow I think the Jawa Demam in this piece is a bit stiff (Kaku in Malay), it lacks that anima I like to see in old hilts of the same style.
I acquired one Pandai Saras luk some time ago, though just the blade, the fittings are new ones by Shukri.

Just wondering, is it just my tired eyes or is the Kelantan/Naro blade's gandik area is a bit narrow compared to other Pandai Saras luk?

9th January 2005, 06:04 AM	#3
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Finally, a Sunday morning with no rain and sufficient sunlight for me to take my archival photos. We've been having day-long drizzles for quite a number of days, and way too much morning rain. Here's the 'whole package'. The hulu pekaka is of wood, and to my knowledge, quite rare (compared to marine ivory ones). I bet its because wood ones disintegrate more easily than marine ivory ones. Unfortunately, this example of mine is on the rough side. At least its the correct form. Attached Images

19th January 2005, 02:59 AM	#4
Raja Muda Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 100	Pandai Saras Congratulations on owning a beauty, especially one with a genuine aged sarung of good kemuning and hulu. Still, somehow I think the Jawa Demam in this piece is a bit stiff (Kaku in Malay), it lacks that anima I like to see in old hilts of the same style. I acquired one Pandai Saras luk some time ago, though just the blade, the fittings are new ones by Shukri. Just wondering, is it just my tired eyes or is the Kelantan/Naro blade's gandik area is a bit narrow compared to other Pandai Saras luk?

1st January 2005, 04:53 PM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Hi Battara, glad to hear from you. I think I can guess what is going through your mind, and probably the minds of other forumnites, when they see this keris. "Interesting" is a neutral adjective to use on this keris, and 'weird' probably hits closer to heart. I had similar reactions when I 1st saw a Kelantanese keris. I thought the greneng looks funny, sometimes like they're on steroids, and the kembang kacang looks like it will snap anytime due to ron dha incised nearly all the way through it. But as time goes by, the style gradually works its way into my psyche, and I begin to appreciate the beauty of it. That's also why I wanted to post this keris for all to see -- to show that apart from the world of Javanese, Balinese, Bugis and Moro kerises, there lies another family of kerises with its own distinctive flavour.

1st January 2005, 06:15 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Well Kai Wee, i'm glad it was you who said it. Truly this is a very "interesting" keris which deserves your attention and a place in your collection. I'm glad you showed it to us. For me, it just doesn't meet with my person keris aesthetic, which is much more Jawa/Bali oriented. But this is a very subjective matter and in no way is meant as a slight to your keris. It just isn't to my tastes. I do, however, like your second example very much. The lines flow better for me and the overall experiece is much more pleasing to my eye. But you make a good point about the distinctiveness of this style as opposed to the Jawa, Bali, Bugis and Moro type of keris. Thanks for showing and say as weird as you are.