Unusual planar keris handles

[Sajen]

And here a possible Yogya handle carved from akar bahar.

[Jean]

Originally Posted by Sajen

And here a possible Yogya handle carved from akar bahar.

Hi Detlef,
Very nice and peculiar hilt, the overall shape is in Nunggak Semi style from Yogya indeed but because of the carvings and filigree selut (recent?) I would rather attribute its origin to East Java , other opinions are welcome.
Regards

[Gustav]

Originally Posted by Sajen

And here a possible Yogya handle carved from akar bahar.

The carvings look more like Cirebon style (see chinese inspired "rocks and clouds" motif).

I doubt, the material is akar bahar, the surface seems to be quite porous in the first picture. I also think, such detailed carvings are not possible on akar bahar, becouse it is very hard and brittle.

[tunggulametung]

Originally Posted by Sajen

And here a possible Yogya handle carved from akar bahar.

Wow nice hilt Detlef. I also vote for Cirebon. If the material is dense, reddish (mature tree), and relatively heavy it might be sawo wood which I was told common for the area, it is a few wood that will allow detail carving (somewhat equal to kemuning). These days it is preffered material for heavy duty items such as drum stick or woodworking tools, carving mallet, hand plane etc.

[Sajen]

Hello Jean,

thank you.
I doubt that the handle is from East Java, Gustav and Chandra may be correct with the Cirebon origin. And you are correct, the selut is recent.

Hello Gustav,

thank you for the hint to the Cirebon origin. I am very unsure about the used material. But the material isn't porous but chinky. And have a look to the last two pictures in down of the carved area, it look a little bit like burned plastic, maybe a sign for horn.

Hello Chandra,

thank you as well. You give the second vote for Cirebon. Like written in up, I am very unsure about the material. The colour is like akar bahar or like reddish horn but could be wood as well.

Regards,

Detlef

[tunggulametung]

Very old buffalo horn may look dry/lost of luster and show small cracks like this so if its unlike wood it may be buffalo horn, akar bahar is not likely as pointed out by Gustav.

[Jean]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Jean,

I doubt that the handle is from East Java, Gustav and Chandra may be correct with the Cirebon origin.
Detlef

I agree that the handle could originate from Cirebon but I could not find any piece with similar motifs in my archives, can somebody show us one?
Regards

[Marcokeris]

another pic of an old cirebon handle with clouds pattern on the base

[Marcokeris]

another unusual hilt

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

another unusual hilt

Interesting hilt with the pierced through carvings at the patras.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

another pic of an old cirebon handle with clouds pattern on the base

Hello Marco,

thank you very much for showing this example, the carvings in up resembles indeed the carvings of my hilt at the same area.

Regards,

Detlef