Identifying 3 hilts

apolaki · 6th August 2020, 01:04 PM

Thanks for the link to your description of Nawa Sari!! It was really interesting to read through.

I am interested to know if there are Balinese keris hilts in the shape of Barong? Do you happen to have any photos or discussions on that topic?

Would you say the photo below is Barong perhaps or another carving of Nawa Sari? The one below seems to be wearing a mahkota. I also took a photo of the back, and seems like there is something being held in the hand in the same orientation as Nawa Sari. Thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Yep, Nawa Sari.

For a long time, a lot of people believed that Nawa Sari had nine heads of rice in his hand (nawa = nine) in fact he has a pandanus flower in his hand.

There was Forum discussion of this not all that long ago.

See:-

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=nawa+sari

Rick · 6th August 2020, 11:56 PM

It's always nice to be able to see the handle from a few angles; it makes identification easier.

apolaki · 7th August 2020, 01:17 AM

Thanks Rick!

What is the Prabu commonly holding in his hand?

Is there any story or history tied to Prabu hilts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

It's always nice to be able to see the handle from a few angles; it makes identification easier.

Rick · 7th August 2020, 01:27 AM

You're welcome Apolaki.
I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with the object he holds in his left hand nor the object clasped in his right hand between his thumb and fingers.
I would love to know however, and also about the face on the back of his headdress; it looks like it might be a rendition of Garuda. I think I see one of these on your example of a Prabu.

One who knows could probably write a paper on the interpretation of the symbolism incorporated in hilts such as these.
I have heard that noble figures are shown with the eyes downcast.

apolaki · 9th August 2020, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apolaki

Thanks for the link to your description of Nawa Sari!! It was really interesting to read through.

I am interested to know if there are Balinese keris hilts in the shape of Barong? Do you happen to have any photos or discussions on that topic?

Would you say the photo below is Barong perhaps or another carving of Nawa Sari? The one below seems to be wearing a mahkota. I also took a photo of the back, and seems like there is something being held in the hand in the same orientation as Nawa Sari. Thanks again!

Does anyone know if this is a carving of Barong or Nawa Sari?

milandro · 28th January 2022, 01:45 PM

I am bumping this,

I have a similar hilt on a Balinese Keris, the seller, a great connoisseur in the NL, told me that this represents Rarung (or Rarong) a witch asistent of Rangda

David · 28th January 2022, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milandro

I am bumping this,

I have a similar hilt on a Balinese Keris, the seller, a great connoisseur in the NL, told me that this represents Rarung (or Rarong) a witch asistent of Rangda

I have seen this hilt described as the witch Calon Arang, but this all seems fairly recent and i cannot recalling seeing this form in old hilts, so i am not convinced it is a traditional form.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calon_Arang

A. G. Maisey · 28th January 2022, 10:40 PM

Calon Arang & Rarung are both female.

I cannot clearly see if this figure has the attributes of a woman, but it appears not to have.

milandro · 2nd February 2022, 09:53 AM

The version of this carved hilt that I have appears to have breasts, and on account of this I’d say it may look female at least in the intentions of the carver. I understand that other elements that we in the west may suppose feminine aren’t necessarily so especially in the Balinese iconography, but the general “ feel” is that this is a feminine entity. Whether Rarung or otherwise.

I found remarkably few references (in western Internet) to Rarung and no Iconographic source (other than this one above ) to compare to my carved figure on the Hilt of may Balinese keris.

But here are picture of this hilt for you to see.

Gustav · 2nd February 2022, 10:57 AM

I find interesting, that this recently carved figure, which perhaps could be identified as Rarung, holds a piece of fabric in each hand.
(In Barong play Rarung has a red magic cloth, which makes her invisible, when put over the head, but serves also other purposes during the play)

An older Bali Wadon hilt of David possibly has a piece of fabric in one or both hands.

Finally the old Wadon hilts from 16/17th centuries hold a piece of fabric in the left hand.

In modern Barong play Rangda has a piece a piece of magic fabric, called Kekudung or Kekereh, which makes her invisible when put over the head. Also Barong himself has such cloth.

Under the many layers of possible simplification/trivialisation/vulgarisation perhaps the same thing can be supposed as origin of this.

David · 2nd February 2022, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Calon Arang & Rarung are both female.

I cannot clearly see if this figure has the attributes of a woman, but it appears not to have.

I have seen many fairly recent examples of this hilt form that are all clearly meant to be female so i believe it is safe to assume this one also exhibits some feminine form if viewed from the right angle.
Still had to be sure if it is meant to represent Calon Arang or any other specific female character though. I don't believe i have ever seen this form in an antique hilt. If anyone has an antique example i would love to see it. But until then i consider this form to be contemporary in nature.

A. G. Maisey · 2nd February 2022, 07:58 PM

The carver might know what he intended to carve --- on the other hand even he might be a bit curious about exactly who he finished up producing.

I have watched carvers --- and silver chasers too --- allowing their hands to work quite independently of their attention, while they talked, smoked or watched TV.

Sajen · 8th March 2023, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milandro

I am bumping this,

I have a similar hilt on a Balinese Keris, the seller, a great connoisseur in the NL, told me that this represents Rarung (or Rarong) a witch asistent of Rangda

Hello,

I think your Netherlands connoisseur is correct. I have had a look in "Krisgreppen En Scheden Uit Bali En Lombok" from the deceased Mr. van Veenendaal, one of the best books about Bali hilts, and found on page 23 a similar hilt in ivory described as Rarung. See attached picture. Sorry for the quality, taken by handphone.

Regards,
Detlef

werecow · 8th March 2023, 11:15 PM

In case anyone is curious the Rarung segment reads:

Quote:

Rarung is the daughter and helper of Rangda/Durga in the Barong dance. The tapering ellipsoid decorations running from top to bottom are meant to represent the tangled hair.

Rick · 9th March 2023, 03:03 AM

These two handles on this page represent Rarong?
Quite a difference!

milandro · 9th March 2023, 07:48 AM

thanks Detlef, I come across this depiction every now and again and then I remember this thread

Sajen · 9th March 2023, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

These two handles on this page represent Rarong?
Quite a difference!

Yes, indeed Rick! But Mr. van Veenendaal seems to think that both are representations of Rarung.

Sajen · 9th March 2023, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

In case anyone is curious the Rarung segment reads:

Thanks for the translation!

werecow · 9th March 2023, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thanks for the translation!

Any time! Actually just to correct myself, it reads "the long tangled hair", but I guess the "long" part is kind of obvious.

milandro · 21st March 2023, 04:01 PM

I have found another 3 examples of this deity, this time the person whom put these images together called it Rangda but , in my mind, this is , again, Rarung.

Strange though this may be, Rarung representations I come across are mostly found in the Netherlands. However , I am told the NL are the second largest (for amount of krises) country in the world after Indonesia, so it may be not so unusual after all.

I always think of this thread every time I find this figure. The images were small and the quality was already enhanced to the outmost of the reasonable.

Pendita65 · 4th July 2023, 08:28 PM

The hilt with the hair as a veil is :

Balu Mekabun she hides in the shade of the twilight zone, waiting for a chance to catch you!'

This Hindu godess and widow of Shiva, wears her hair down. Nobody sees her ugly monster face, so she can easily appraoch her victims without being recognized as the devouring monster Rangda.

This is what i found on the Dutch Keris group on FB.

6th August 2020, 11:56 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	It's always nice to be able to see the handle from a few angles; it makes identification easier. Attached Images

28th January 2022, 01:45 PM	#6
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	I am bumping this, I have a similar hilt on a Balinese Keris, the seller, a great connoisseur in the NL, told me that this represents Rarung (or Rarong) a witch asistent of Rangda Last edited by milandro; 28th January 2022 at 02:04 PM.

2nd February 2022, 09:53 AM	#9
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	The version of this carved hilt that I have appears to have breasts, and on account of this I’d say it may look female at least in the intentions of the carver. I understand that other elements that we in the west may suppose feminine aren’t necessarily so especially in the Balinese iconography, but the general “ feel” is that this is a feminine entity. Whether Rarung or otherwise. I found remarkably few references (in western Internet) to Rarung and no Iconographic source (other than this one above ) to compare to my carved figure on the Hilt of may Balinese keris. But here are picture of this hilt for you to see. Attached Images

2nd February 2022, 10:57 AM	#10
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,295	I find interesting, that this recently carved figure, which perhaps could be identified as Rarung, holds a piece of fabric in each hand. (In Barong play Rarung has a red magic cloth, which makes her invisible, when put over the head, but serves also other purposes during the play) An older Bali Wadon hilt of David possibly has a piece of fabric in one or both hands. Finally the old Wadon hilts from 16/17th centuries hold a piece of fabric in the left hand. In modern Barong play Rangda has a piece a piece of magic fabric, called Kekudung or Kekereh, which makes her invisible when put over the head. Also Barong himself has such cloth. Under the many layers of possible simplification/trivialisation/vulgarisation perhaps the same thing can be supposed as origin of this. Attached Images

21st March 2023, 04:01 PM	#20
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	Rarung, once more I have found another 3 examples of this deity, this time the person whom put these images together called it Rangda but , in my mind, this is , again, Rarung. Strange though this may be, Rarung representations I come across are mostly found in the Netherlands. However , I am told the NL are the second largest (for amount of krises) country in the world after Indonesia, so it may be not so unusual after all. I always think of this thread every time I find this figure. The images were small and the quality was already enhanced to the outmost of the reasonable. Attached Images

7th August 2020, 01:27 AM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	You're welcome Apolaki. I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with the object he holds in his left hand nor the object clasped in his right hand between his thumb and fingers. I would love to know however, and also about the face on the back of his headdress; it looks like it might be a rendition of Garuda. I think I see one of these on your example of a Prabu. One who knows could probably write a paper on the interpretation of the symbolism incorporated in hilts such as these. I have heard that noble figures are shown with the eyes downcast.

28th January 2022, 10:40 PM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,044	Calon Arang & Rarung are both female. I cannot clearly see if this figure has the attributes of a woman, but it appears not to have.

2nd February 2022, 07:58 PM	#12
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,044	The carver might know what he intended to carve --- on the other hand even he might be a bit curious about exactly who he finished up producing. I have watched carvers --- and silver chasers too --- allowing their hands to work quite independently of their attention, while they talked, smoked or watched TV.

9th March 2023, 03:03 AM	#15
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	These two handles on this page represent Rarong? Quite a difference!

9th March 2023, 07:48 AM	#16
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	thanks Detlef, I come across this depiction every now and again and then I remember this thread

4th July 2023, 08:28 PM	#21
Pendita65 Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 128	The hilt with the hair as a veil The hilt with the hair as a veil is : Balu Mekabun she hides in the shade of the twilight zone, waiting for a chance to catch you!' This Hindu godess and widow of Shiva, wears her hair down. Nobody sees her ugly monster face, so she can easily appraoch her victims without being recognized as the devouring monster Rangda. This is what i found on the Dutch Keris group on FB.