Bitten by the Keris Bug

[GIO]

Definitely a nice piece. The scabbard looks very recent (normal for most keris) and the hilt is rather crudely made. But it is the blade that matters.
If it were mine I would only change the hilt. Impossible to attribute an age from a photo and very difficult on visual examination. Few experts can do that. (I don't give you the names as I would not forget somebody....)
Best wishes for a new keris-addicted.

[Marcokeris]

Originally Posted by GIO

Definitely a nice piece. The scabbard looks very recent (normal for most keris) and the hilt is rather crudely made. But it is the blade that matters.
If it were mine I would only change the hilt. Impossible to attribute an age from a photo and very difficult on visual examination. Few experts can do that. (I don't give you the names as I would not forget somebody....)
Best wishes for a new keris-addicted.

I agree

[Henk]

If this is a souvenir, you could say that this keris is certainly acceptable and decent. Well done!!
The ukiran is more Jawa Deman. A good Bugis ukiran is more the pistol hilted grip. I would try to get such an ukiran.

But it is a very nice keris suitable for every serious keris collection.

[kai]

Hello Henk,

The ukiran is more Jawa Deman. A good Bugis ukiran is more the pistol hilted grip.

The anak ayam teleng is a JD variant from the Malay East coast. I'm attaching an antique example from my collection (sorry, pre-restoration pic with hilt still turned in non-typical direction).

Note the selut which would be typical for the Terengganu region and more suitable for this hilt type.

Regards,
Kai

[David]

Originally Posted by Henk

The ukiran is more Jawa Deman. A good Bugis ukiran is more the pistol hilted grip. I would try to get such an ukiran.

This confuses me Henk. This is a Bugis form of blade, but the Peninsula. As far as i understand it the right Bugis hilt would depend upon the area of origin for this particular Bugis style blade. I have seen many Peninsula Bugis blades dressed with Jawa Deman hilts. The style of hilt you seem to be describing is more correct for Bugis blades from Sulawesi and certain areas of Sumatra as far as i know.

[Henk]

Sorry for the confusion gentlemen. The english language is not my mother language. The hilt Kai showed is the one i ment and is in my opnion more suitable for this keris.

[F. de Luzon]

Thank you for your insights gentlemen! All your comments are much appreciated.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Henk

Sorry for the confusion gentlemen. The english language is not my mother language. The hilt Kai showed is the one i ment and is in my opnion more suitable for this keris.

Hello Henk,

in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=terengganu, first post, you can see a nearly identical hilt. It's so far I know a typical Terengganu hilt, so is nothing wrong with this combination IMVHO. When you will search long enough you will find more examples of this style.

F. de Luzon, welcome to the forum!

Regards,
Detlef

[David]

Originally Posted by Henk

Sorry for the confusion gentlemen. The english language is not my mother language. The hilt Kai showed is the one i ment and is in my opnion more suitable for this keris.

Well, i don't wish to belabor this point much more, but Jawa Demam hilts are also commonly found on Bugis blades from the Terengganu area. Here is one that is not mine, but i have seen the blade and it is clearly of Bugis design. I also have one in my own collection which has not been photographed yet that has almost the exact same dress (hilt, cup and sheath). And i have seen many more like it from this same region.

[Laowang]

In my view, a good-quality Bugis-style blade, in relatively recent peninsular Malaysian dress in the style of the Terengganu region.

I agree that this isn't the finest rendition of the hilt form that I've seen. I've seen this particular style of hilt referred to by at least one Singaporean dealer as anak ayam teleng ("cuddling chick"), and appropriate for Terengganu dress. It's apparently the Terengganu form of the jawa demam hilt, at least according to this dealer. (Reviewing the thread, it occurs to me that I'm repeating things that kai has also said) I've seen other keris with this kind of hilt paired with the Bugis hilt cup; in my view, I think the entire ensemble is fine, and I personally wouldn't mess with it.

I wouldn't be sorry to have this blade, and dress, in my possession. Welcome to the forum, F. de Luzon.

[kai]

Hello David,

Well, i don't wish to belabor this point much more, but Jawa Demam hilts are also commonly found on Bugis blades from the Terengganu area. Here is one that is not mine, but i have seen the blade and it is clearly of Bugis design. I also have one in my own collection which has not been photographed yet that has almost the exact same dress (hilt, cup and sheath). And i have seen many more like it from this same region.

You're showing the pekaka hilt which is a more northern Malay type, again a variant of the JD form.

The anak ayam teleng type is quite typical for Terengganu though.

Regards,
Kai