Blade for identification

Gavin Nugent · 26th March 2023, 10:38 AM

Hi David,

Interesting history within.

Personally I do not see much age to any of the keris.
I don't think they harken back to what would be considered antiquity, although from the history provide they seem to have family importance.

The "Rudus" on the other hand, drop them in to the Ethno discussion group, they show signs of promise.

Gavin

milandro · 26th March 2023, 12:15 PM

Nice to see these blades but I agree I don't think that the blades or the dress were very old when they arrived in the NL.

The last blade that you say may be a Banten blade may have started its life as a tombak , the Ganja is certainly a later and not too good an addition

David · 26th March 2023, 02:50 PM

Great discovery!
I agree with Gavin and Milandro that the last blade is not an old Banten keris.
And as Gavin suggested, post the other blades to the Ethno Forum as we only discuss keris on this page.

kai · 26th March 2023, 05:56 PM

Dear all,

I'd guess that the keris on the right never was a tombak but started its life similar as the 2 on the left side. This is a known style from southern Sumatra that seems to have developed during the late colonial period - not sure when the first example got documented. Good to have additional evidence - thanks for posting, David!

The second keris from the right looks like a genuine antique blade with also old fittings (except for the scabbard stem and its silver bands which seem to be a later restoration.

As mentioned, the 3 swords are typical examples from southern Sumatra. David, can you confirm if the name rudus has also been in use in Lampung? I'm only aware of its use considerably further North (for a different type of blade).

I'd like to see the blades of the 4 additional pieces, too. As mentioned, posting these on the main forum would be much preferred.

Regards,
Kai

David Gallas · 27th March 2023, 12:20 PM

Yes sorry, let me give some extra info. They are all very promissing to me, except for the last keris. Let me explain a little. Last year i became the new PM for the dutch Pencak Silat federation the NPSF, and I am working on 2 big projects now.
Starting the training in fighting and training the spiritual part and maintaining the quality of the blank weapons toghether with Indonesia to the new generation here in Holland. We still have a lot of pusaka that are beeing used here.
And a big international cultural event in Holland with an exposition of museum peaces of the museum Banten and the Lamakkawa Bone collection with beautiful golden keris from the Bone kingdom.
Also a big Indonesian delegation is comming like Guru besar Ki Kunbang and Guru Besar Parewa La Mataesso Sopeng with the police of Banten.But also Mr K. H. Tb. Sangadiah, the museum director of the Banten Museumis comming.
Prof Dr Rudy Heriyanto is also comming, writer of the book The Golok. All comming to give seminars here in Holland.
We already met in november, and trained toghether, and we are supporting their mission to also bring the Golok to Unesco. So i have the unique chance to learn a lot from first hand...
So the fact that those blank weapons came to me on this moment is a good coincident!

The 2 Lampung keris are perfect for me, with the typical grip and the Sepukal blade, just as they wanted it in east Sumatra. They were made for his grand-parents so i gues maybe 1910 to 1930?
The 3rd keris is the family pusaka and is old. He couldn't tell me how old, but he was talking about several generations.

Interesting Kai, i must admit that i only know a little about the east Javanese keris...

I tried to make some better pictures of the first 3 keris

David Gallas · 27th March 2023, 12:27 PM

Oh yes about the name Rudus. The Sumatran people who live in Holland call it Rudus. Most of them are mixed, have Dutch fathers and Indonesian mothers.. Like the gentlman on the picture, he is very light skin, but his brother is very dark skin..

David Gallas · 27th March 2023, 03:52 PM

Aha, the sun starts shining in Belgium, now i have some good light.

The first picture is from the Patrem Sepukal blade, the second also from the Sepukal blade but the large keris, but i see that it has some kind of pamor patern in the blade. The 3rd pictrue is from their family pusaka. And the last picture is from the keris i do not realy understand what it is and an extra picture of the gonjo. It is a realy big and heavy blade.

27th March 2023, 12:27 PM	#6
David Gallas Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 24	Oh yes about the name Rudus. The Sumatran people who live in Holland call it Rudus. Most of them are mixed, have Dutch fathers and Indonesian mothers.. Like the gentlman on the picture, he is very light skin, but his brother is very dark skin.. Attached Images

27th March 2023, 03:52 PM	#7
David Gallas Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 24	Aha, the sun starts shining in Belgium, now i have some good light. The first picture is from the Patrem Sepukal blade, the second also from the Sepukal blade but the large keris, but i see that it has some kind of pamor patern in the blade. The 3rd pictrue is from their family pusaka. And the last picture is from the keris i do not realy understand what it is and an extra picture of the gonjo. It is a realy big and heavy blade. Attached Images

26th March 2023, 10:38 AM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Hi David, Interesting history within. Personally I do not see much age to any of the keris. I don't think they harken back to what would be considered antiquity, although from the history provide they seem to have family importance. The "Rudus" on the other hand, drop them in to the Ethno discussion group, they show signs of promise. Gavin

26th March 2023, 12:15 PM	#2
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 487	Nice to see these blades but I agree I don't think that the blades or the dress were very old when they arrived in the NL. The last blade that you say may be a Banten blade may have started its life as a tombak , the Ganja is certainly a later and not too good an addition

26th March 2023, 02:50 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Great discovery! I agree with Gavin and Milandro that the last blade is not an old Banten keris. And as Gavin suggested, post the other blades to the Ethno Forum as we only discuss keris on this page.

26th March 2023, 05:56 PM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Dear all, I'd guess that the keris on the right never was a tombak but started its life similar as the 2 on the left side. This is a known style from southern Sumatra that seems to have developed during the late colonial period - not sure when the first example got documented. Good to have additional evidence - thanks for posting, David! The second keris from the right looks like a genuine antique blade with also old fittings (except for the scabbard stem and its silver bands which seem to be a later restoration. As mentioned, the 3 swords are typical examples from southern Sumatra. David, can you confirm if the name rudus has also been in use in Lampung? I'm only aware of its use considerably further North (for a different type of blade). I'd like to see the blades of the 4 additional pieces, too. As mentioned, posting these on the main forum would be much preferred. Regards, Kai

27th March 2023, 12:20 PM	#5
David Gallas Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 24	Yes sorry, let me give some extra info. They are all very promissing to me, except for the last keris. Let me explain a little. Last year i became the new PM for the dutch Pencak Silat federation the NPSF, and I am working on 2 big projects now. Starting the training in fighting and training the spiritual part and maintaining the quality of the blank weapons toghether with Indonesia to the new generation here in Holland. We still have a lot of pusaka that are beeing used here. And a big international cultural event in Holland with an exposition of museum peaces of the museum Banten and the Lamakkawa Bone collection with beautiful golden keris from the Bone kingdom. Also a big Indonesian delegation is comming like Guru besar Ki Kunbang and Guru Besar Parewa La Mataesso Sopeng with the police of Banten.But also Mr K. H. Tb. Sangadiah, the museum director of the Banten Museumis comming. Prof Dr Rudy Heriyanto is also comming, writer of the book The Golok. All comming to give seminars here in Holland. We already met in november, and trained toghether, and we are supporting their mission to also bring the Golok to Unesco. So i have the unique chance to learn a lot from first hand... So the fact that those blank weapons came to me on this moment is a good coincident! The 2 Lampung keris are perfect for me, with the typical grip and the Sepukal blade, just as they wanted it in east Sumatra. They were made for his grand-parents so i gues maybe 1910 to 1930? The 3rd keris is the family pusaka and is old. He couldn't tell me how old, but he was talking about several generations. Interesting Kai, i must admit that i only know a little about the east Javanese keris... I tried to make some better pictures of the first 3 keris