Keris with Ivory, Silver and Horn

F. de Luzon · 1st November 2017, 04:21 PM

Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate the time you spared to share your observations and insights. I learned some more about the keris and culture from the discussion.

For now, I intend to leave this keris as found. It is unfortunate that there is little information on its provenance. I purchased it from a Massachusetts based antique dealer who said that, "it came out of a lot of knives with the majority of them being from the Philippines and came back from the Philippine American War of 1899-1902." I asked for additional information but have not received a reply.

Anyway, below are additional pictures. The first shows details of the sheath construction. In the second, I highlighted matching details of the upper and lower parts of the the pendok. The third and fourth are just additional front and back views. The last is a photo of a print showing a similar sheath (back view).

Kind regards to all!

Fernando

David · 1st November 2017, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F. de Luzon

For now, I intend to leave this keris as found.

Frankly Fernando, if it were mine i would probably take the same path, even if i agree with Kai that the pendokok does not quite fit the hilt properly. As Alan points out, we do not live in a world of perfection. If it could be shown through provenance that this was a recent addition by the dealer i might think differently, but in the absence of further information i believe you have a reasonably nice example of an old Sumatran Anak Alang (or Bahari if it is actually shorter than i perceive).

F. de Luzon · 10th November 2017, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Frankly Fernando, if it were mine i would probably take the same path, even if i agree with Kai that the pendokok does not quite fit the hilt properly. As Alan points out, we do not live in a world of perfection. If it could be shown through provenance that this was a recent addition by the dealer i might think differently, but in the absence of further information i believe you have a reasonably nice example of an old Sumatran Anak Alang (or Bahari if it is actually shorter than i perceive).

Thanks David!

Fernando

1st November 2017, 04:21 PM	#1
F. de Luzon Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 184	Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate the time you spared to share your observations and insights. I learned some more about the keris and culture from the discussion. For now, I intend to leave this keris as found. It is unfortunate that there is little information on its provenance. I purchased it from a Massachusetts based antique dealer who said that, "it came out of a lot of knives with the majority of them being from the Philippines and came back from the Philippine American War of 1899-1902." I asked for additional information but have not received a reply. Anyway, below are additional pictures. The first shows details of the sheath construction. In the second, I highlighted matching details of the upper and lower parts of the the pendok. The third and fourth are just additional front and back views. The last is a photo of a print showing a similar sheath (back view). Kind regards to all! Fernando Attached Images Last edited by F. de Luzon; 2nd November 2017 at 03:02 AM.