Relic of a Javanese kriss whith original warangka

[Rafngard]

Originally Posted by Athanase

I had seen an instructive explanation of this type of warangka in Mr. Maisey's Catalog No. 74 (?). Unfortunately I made the mistake of not copying the text and I can't find this page.

Hello,

I think you are referring to a Javanese keris patrem, with a wrongko in the Wulan Tumanggal form, and a gandar with red kemalo, from catalog # 74, which now lives with me. :-)

Mr. Maisey also mentioned that "this wrongko form has not been made in Java for a very long time, according to Harsrinuksmo (Ensiklopedi Keris) it has not been made since the end of the Kartosuro era (1680-1745)."

I hope this helps.

Thanks,
Leif

[Jean]

The hilt is in putrasatu style from East Java, see a rather similar specimen.
Regards

[Athanase]

Thank you for your help.

[Jean]

The gambar tumanggal of Athanase's kris is very nice and peculiar because of the longitudinal ridge on both sides but I doubt that it dates from the Kartasura period or before....
Regards

[David]

Well, i don't think that it is too important whether or not this wrongko was made during the Mataram/Kartosuro period or not, it is still a nice example of a fairly rare Javanese keris sheath and certainly worthy of collection just for this dress alone. The hilt is also pretty nice. I agree with Jean though that it is unlikely that the dress dates back as far as the 18th century, though it would not be impossible i suppose.
The blade, however, well may. It is a pity that it has undergone so much blade erosion. If it were mine i might find a decent mendak just to return some dignity to the ensemble.

[Jean]

I am always hesitant to assess such a damaged blade, is it a precious but worn-out/ neglected pusaka or just worthless rubbish? In Europe the collectors tend to follow the second alternative, for instance I had little success in trying to sell these 2 very old krisses....
In the case of Athanase's kris, it is a pity that the blade be in such a poor condition indeed as it was certainly a very good piece originally. I would certainly have bought the kris just for the dress and hilt. A good way to re-use the blade would be to make a new blade partly from it for keeping its power...
Regards

[Bejo]

Hi,

I have a warongko that have similarities with warongko Wulan Tumanggal but in gayaman form. Does anyone have any information about my warongko?

Thank you,

Regards,

Joe

[Athanase]

Originally Posted by David

Well, i don't think that it is too important whether or not this wrongko was made during the Mataram/Kartosuro period or not, it is still a nice example of a fairly rare Javanese keris sheath and certainly worthy of collection just for this dress alone. The hilt is also pretty nice. I agree with Jean though that it is unlikely that the dress dates back as far as the 18th century, though it would not be impossible i suppose.
The blade, however, well may. It is a pity that it has undergone so much blade erosion. If it were mine i might find a decent mendak just to return some dignity to the ensemble.

I agree with you, for me it's unlikely that the scabbard is mid-18th century. Being reasonable I would say that it dates from the 19th century.

For the Mendak, I have several old but what are the typical forms from East Java? (to be in accordance with the handle)

[Bejo]

Hi,

They are some mendak that I think from East Java and Madura.

Regards,

Joe