Information wanted

[Sajen]

Hi Martin,

Yes, I am able to see them. Looks much better on your pictures than from the seller. Congrats, a nice handle and I agree with David and Rick, could be a form of the kocet kocetan form.

Regards,
Detlef

[David]

Cleaned up nicely and i agree that i can see the lines as well.
This is an interesting find because i am fairly certain this is not Balinese (most likely Madurese) and if this is intended as a kocet-kocetan form (and elements of the hilt do point that way) it would be the first time i have seen that form from outside of Bali. I do at least see elements that seem to be insect like in nature. Can you take a photo that looks directly head on at what appears to be the front/belly of the hilt?

[Pendita65]

Hi Detlef and David,

See the pictures of the front and I do belief it’s a Kocet Kocetan

Regards, Martin

[Sajen]

We shouldn't try to classify the handle in question to a specific name i. E. k. kocetan, like David already stated is my personal guess to have a East Javanese handle here which resembles a k. kocetan handle or an insect like figure or their grub carved in ivory and shows a nice patination and also appeals to the eyes, at least to my ones! Only the carver will know which figure it should represent.

Regards,
Detlef

[Rick]

Of course, Detlef.
There's nothing wrong with members expressing their thoughts though. I don't think any one of us has said that this anything definite, just observations, no harm in that.

[Pendita65]

Yes,

it's a ukiran with insect features nicely carved in ivory the face adorned with curly antennae. And maybe someone in the future can tell, we have seen a similar one in Indonesia.

Regards, Martin

[David]

Originally Posted by Pendita65

Yes,

it's a ukiran with insect features nicely carved in ivory the face adorned with curly antennae. And maybe someone in the future can tell, we have seen a similar one in Indonesia.

Regards, Martin

I think that feature you are calling antennae look more like probiscus in that postion, but who knows. AFAIK the Balinese kocet-kocetan is the only example of a keris hilt that depicts the insect kingdom. Perhaps someone else knows of another example. We could do a lot of speculating here. Certainly there are Balinese communities in Madura and maybe this could have been made by an ethnic Balinese living in East Jawa an this was their interpretation of a kocetan hilt. Though it is missing certain features such as the multiple legs that we usually see on kocetan. But it is impossible to get inside the head of an unknown carver.
Regardless i believe it is an excellent and unique find.