Keris Bugis Raja Gundala

[David]

If i had you say i don't think i would vote for Javanese origins on this keris. I think it is probably Sumatran. This blade seems to have Bugis influences to me.

[Rick]

If we're going to discuss pamor Raja Gundala I think that David is wise to suggest merging these threads to avoid confusion .

As I have said before unless the image presented is fairly unmistakable then personally I feel it is a matter left up to the individual .

As for the dapur of the keris Zack has presented; I must reverse myself and say it appears Sumatran from what little I can see; the contrast in the pamor was my original downfall .

Come in Zack; we need more visual input; I cannot make out anything concrete to my eyes in the pamor you have shown.

[Zack_antik]

Thank you all.. for the reply. Here i include more photos for your viewing. I'm a bit confused now as what i've been told that the keris is of Bugis origin, but not Sumatra or Javanese.

[Alam Shah]

The 1st blade looks like a bugis-influenced blade, probably a Straits piece.

Rick, yours although looks similar, but not the same. Metal composition is different and there are other subtle differences, as well.

(BluErf could fill-in for the subtle differences... ).

[Rick]

Thank you for the input Alam Shah; could you elaborate a bit on both pieces and their differences ?

I can see the difference in the contrast of the pamors .
Could you possibly offer an opinion of the origin of each one ?

Is there any signifigance to the open space between the gonjo and the blade in the greneng area on these two keris .

Sorry to plague you with so many questions but my curiousity burns .

[Rick]

I can see; after some coaching, a skull like head with a swollen cranium and possibly a body below dressed in robes on Zack's sorsoran .

[David]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

The 1st blade looks like a bugis-influenced blade, probably a Straits piece.

Rick, yours although looks similar, but not the same. Metal composition is different and there are other subtle differences, as well.

(BluErf could fill-in for the subtle differences... ).

Yep, now that we see the whole blade i will more definitely commit to say Bugis influenced, not from Jawa, but i will leave it to our more peninsula oriented friends (sorry, i am not sure how better to say that, but you know who you are ) to pinpoint exactly where it is from. Since the Bugis migrated abouut quite a bit and brought their keris making influences with them, i personally find it hard to ID orgins on these blades, missing the subtlties that folks like Alam Shah and BluErf seem to be able to pick out so well.
Nicely dressed BTW, beautiful patina .
I also love that display stand Zack. Did you purchase it or make it yourself? I am often stumped on how to display my Bugis keris since they don't really fit well in Javanese and Balinese holders. That one looks great.

[Zack_antik]

Thanks David,
For your input and appraisal on my Keris, for the Keris stand i bought it from Malay Art Gallery in Singapore.

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Zack_antik

... for the Keris stand i bought it from Malay Art Gallery in Singapore.

I thought so, that's where I've seen it.

[David]

Originally Posted by Zack_antik

Thanks David,
For your input and appraisal on my Keris, for the Keris stand i bought it from Malay Art Gallery in Singapore.

Thanks Zack. Adni has been holding out on me, i've never seen that stand for sale.

[BluErf]

Hi guys,

Been buried by work recently, and didn't have time to join the action. Well, going to be very busy until end of September, at least.

Ah, I remember Zack's keris very well, because I was very interested in it too! It is definitely a Straits Bugis blade, and a very fine one too. The pamor is very well controlled both in terms of staying within the confines of the blade and the tightness. The luks are gracefully meandering and the tip is a very well-formed 'dome' tip. I would say the blade is nearly as fine as the golden keris on the cover of Court Arts of Indonesia.

The blade has been "washed" (etched with warangan) in Java, hence the high contrast and Javanese look. Washing influences the look of a keris very much. Straits Bugis refer to the Bugis who stay on either side of the Melaka Straits, mostly in the Riau islands, Johore and Selangor. Their blades were generally 'sweeter' and more refined than Sulawesi keris blades. I have no idea why, even though Sulawesi was the home island of the Bugis.

The fittings were, in my opinion, contemporary and made in Java. The ivory were stained to achieve the yellow-orange colour, which differed somewhat from the orange stain used in Sumatra. See 1st pic. However, this would not detract from the fact the sheath is very well made.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php)

The pistol-grip hilt is nice, but if you look carefully, has a head which differs subtlely from a typical Straits Bugis hilt. Specifically, the forehead was protruding a bit too much. See next 2 pics.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php
http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php)

The pendoko (hilt cup) is rather atypical, though, I'd say its still a pendoko, and proper. See fourth pic for a Bugis/Malay "Melaka cup" pendoko.. The pendok is very fine, and represents very well repoussed Bugis motif.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php)

The sampir is generally of the correct form, though somewhat flat. See fifih pic for an "archetypal" Sumatran Bugis non-chieftain keris sampir.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php)

Despite the Javanese origin of the fittings, this is still a very fine Bugis keris with generally proper form, and very beautiful too! And the generous use of ivory adds to the high value of this Bugis keris. I was really short of cash back then, and couldn't afford this keris. Congratulations, Zack! Keep it well.

And as to Rick's blade, I think it is Sumatran too. It has a hexagonal cross-section, and the metal looks like those found on Sumatran kerises, and if I see correctly, the pamor is the typical Bugis ujung gunong-kulit semangka combination. The hilt is a keris panjang hilt, with a fitting pendoko.

[Zack_antik]

Originally Posted by BluErf

Hi guys,

Been buried by work recently, and didn't have time to join the action. Well, going to be very busy until end of September, at least.

Ah, I remember Zack's keris very well, because I was very interested in it too! It is definitely a Straits Bugis blade, and a very fine one too. The pamor is very well controlled both in terms of staying within the confines of the blade and the tightness. The luks are gracefully meandering and the tip is a very well-formed 'dome' tip. I would say the blade is nearly as fine as the golden keris on the cover of Court Arts of Indonesia.

The blade has been "washed" (etched with warangan) in Java, hence the high contrast and Javanese look. Washing influences the look of a keris very much. Straits Bugis refer to the Bugis who stay on either side of the Melaka Straits, mostly in the Riau islands, Johore and Selangor. Their blades were generally 'sweeter' and more refined than Sulawesi keris blades. I have no idea why, even though Sulawesi was the home island of the Bugis.

The fittings were, in my opinion, contemporary and made in Java. The ivory were stained to achieve the yellow-orange colour, which differed somewhat from the orange stain used in Sumatra. See 1st pic. However, this would not detract from the fact the sheath is very well made.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php)

The pistol-grip hilt is nice, but if you look carefully, has a head which differs subtlely from a typical Straits Bugis hilt. Specifically, the forehead was protruding a bit too much. See next 2 pics.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php
http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php)

The pendoko (hilt cup) is rather atypical, though, I'd say its still a pendoko, and proper. See fourth pic for a Bugis/Malay "Melaka cup" pendoko.. The pendok is very fine, and represents very well repoussed Bugis motif.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php)

The sampir is generally of the correct form, though somewhat flat. See fifih pic for an "archetypal" Sumatran Bugis non-chieftain keris sampir.
(http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php)

Despite the Javanese origin of the fittings, this is still a very fine Bugis keris with generally proper form, and very beautiful too! And the generous use of ivory adds to the high value of this Bugis keris. I was really short of cash back then, and couldn't afford this keris. Congratulations, Zack! Keep it well.

And as to Rick's blade, I think it is Sumatran too. It has a hexagonal cross-section, and the metal looks like those found on Sumatran kerises, and if I see correctly, the pamor is the typical Bugis ujung gunong-kulit semangka combination. The hilt is a keris panjang hilt, with a fitting pendoko.

Thank you for all the information given Zack