![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 336
|
![]()
Hello All,
The midwinter Minnesota sun was compliant (enough) and I finally had a chance to take a few pics of two new acquisitions. Apologies for the quality of the pics, and the cat hair visible in the pics, I had 3 furry "helpers" while taking the photos. The first keris is a "Dutch soldier's keris" from Madura. If I understand correctly, the style puts it somewhere between the late 19th century and WWII. I know these are a little touristy, but I still like them, particularly the ones like this, with a lion carved on the sampir. I also like that the woman on the figural hilt has what could be whiskers. Perhaps that's what attracted my furry "helpers." I also really enjoy the built in mendak and pendok. The Wilah itself looks like it has some age, and could use an etching, something that I'm afraid is beyond me at present. there is some clear pattern welding present. The tip, well, looks a bit chewed up, and the edge is nicked in at least one place. The second Keris looks to my (untrained) eye to be a keris from Java. The seller thought it might be mid 20th century, but who knows? The ukiran is in the in the Surakarta style, as is the Sampir, in the gayaman. I suspect the (brass?) pendok is a replacement, given how the top edge doesn't quite match up to the sampir, though maybe this could be due to some sort of climate based wood shrinkage? Occam's razor says replacement I think. Some of the wood inside the pendok is damaged near the tip. I really love the wilah, especially the "topographic" finish. I think the pamor is ngulit semangka, but I'm not good at identifying such things. I don't know that I have the vocabulary at this point to describe the ricikan, except to say that in looking at my pics I see rust I'd previously missed. This has been subsequently taken care of. Did I get the above right? Wrong? Please let me know! I look forward to any and all comments, corrections, and opinions! Thanks, Leif |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 336
|
![]()
More pics
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 336
|
![]()
....yet more
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 336
|
![]()
No comments?
Thanks, Leif |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
|
![]()
Hi Leif. Sorry to see no one has commented yet. Truth be told these aren't particularly anything to write home about and you have probably already said all that needs to be said about them. You are correct that the first one (on left) is what has come to be known as a "soldier's keris" from Madura. Keris in this style dress are often thought of as early souvenir items for returning dutch soldiers. They rarely carry anything beyond a mediocre blade. This one is a pretty low end carving though. I have seen much nicer examples and have always thought i would like to add one of the nicer examples of this style to my collection one day. I am not convinced that the figurative hilt is supposed to be a female figure. What do you base that on?
Your second keris is perhaps a bit better. You are again correct, this dress is Surakarta. The best thing about this dress is that the top sheath and stem are carved all in one piece (iras) which is unusual. It looks to me like the wood needs a bit of TLC. The blade has some deep cut features, but that look kind of sloppy and stiff to me. I would also perhaps put this one in the 20th century as the seller suggested. Not a terrible keris, but nothing extraordinary. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 | |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
|
![]() Quote:
A picture without the pendok can help to be sure. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,740
|
![]() Quote:
I agree that the warangka looks iras and about what you say about these 2 krisses. I attach the pic of a better madurese "soldier" kris for reference. Regards ![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,857
|
![]()
A gabilan keris if normal size, a brahmana rsi if large size.
Examples in Suminep kraton museum. The originals, such as Jean's, were not souvenir productions, but a legitimate Madurese form, probably a folk art, used by the common people, this is supposition on my part, I have no evidence to back this up, only what I have gathered from local conversations. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 | |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 373
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
|
![]() Quote:
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,238
|
![]()
Actually the place and angle for a joint line here is not unusual, for Solo style wrongko. For a better taste the angle could be perhaps even steeper and the line located a bit deeper.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
|
![]() Quote:
I am still pretty convinced, however, that this sheath is all one piece. Perhaps Leif will get back to us soon to confirm one way or the other. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,238
|
![]()
David, there are many examples in Solyoms book on pages 41, 42 and 47 and should be more in Haryoguritnos.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
|
![]()
I can't disagree Gustav, but I think, in this particular case, that it is as David says: a deep scratch.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,238
|
![]()
That's possible, Rick.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 336
|
![]()
Firstly, thank you all for your thoughts on this.
I'm glad I was mostly right on the stuff I said. I'm also glad I didn't pay terribly much for these. Mostly, I still likely them, and I'm happy to have an opportunity to learn. It's strange how much easier it is to seem flaws with something (in this case the ricikan on the Surakarta Keris) once someone else points them out. Secondly, it does infact seem to be a iras scabbard. I'll try to post some pics in the morning. The mark visible is indeed a deep scratch. Also, the wood inside the pendok is in not great condition. Thanks, Leif |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|