Bali/Lombok keris from ebay

A. G. Maisey · 16th July 2009, 11:51 PM

In my opinion, probably not.

There is very little information available on Bali keris. Perhaps the best, easily available text is "Keris di Lombok" by Ir.H. Lalu Djelenga, and that has a Lombok slant, although it seems that much of what is said in it can be also applied to Bali.

Going back about 25 years I put a lot of time into trying to get information on Balinese keris, but I had almost no success. Admittedly, I lacked the connections I had in Jawa, but I did have a relative who was married into one of the royal families, and through that connection I got a couple of introductions to people whom one would have thought would have had some knowledge, but regretably there was very little there.

I was at that time given a photocopy of an old text on keris, but I was never able to find anybody who could read it.

Tatyana Dianova · 17th July 2009, 08:13 AM

I am a great fan of Balinese Keris and I always look for more information about it. I have "Keris di Lombok" book, unfortunately I cannot read it and can only look through the pictures. The general question that always comes to my mind during viewing: are all the blades and dresses in this book really old? The dresses there look often like a modern work from Lombok.

Gustav · 17th July 2009, 08:51 AM

Alan, thank You for Your very interesting response.

May I ask, was impossible to read it because of the language itself, or because of terminology? I can imagine, You have tryed 25 years ago all possible, and with every year there are less and less people with knowledge about old culture.

(I have heard, the older dalangs are still able to read the ancient language. But of course, it is a very naive thought.)

Tatyana, I think the same about the dresses. But sometimes it seems to me, there is an older stile, the ornamental lines are smaller and somehow very graceful curved. One of such keris is on de Vries catalogue, fairly in the middle with the black gandar and kekandikan. (Of course it is even not an opinion.)

Jussi M. · 17th July 2009, 09:48 AM

Beautiful keris Gustav. Do you have pics of the sheath?

Thanks,

J

Gustav · 17th July 2009, 11:00 AM

Hello Jussi!

there was no sheath, unfortunately.

But if it would be as enigmatic in the way the connexion between uwer and the hilt is ... probably better so

16th July 2009, 11:51 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	In my opinion, probably not. There is very little information available on Bali keris. Perhaps the best, easily available text is "Keris di Lombok" by Ir.H. Lalu Djelenga, and that has a Lombok slant, although it seems that much of what is said in it can be also applied to Bali. Going back about 25 years I put a lot of time into trying to get information on Balinese keris, but I had almost no success. Admittedly, I lacked the connections I had in Jawa, but I did have a relative who was married into one of the royal families, and through that connection I got a couple of introductions to people whom one would have thought would have had some knowledge, but regretably there was very little there. I was at that time given a photocopy of an old text on keris, but I was never able to find anybody who could read it.

17th July 2009, 08:13 AM	#2
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 735	I am a great fan of Balinese Keris and I always look for more information about it. I have "Keris di Lombok" book, unfortunately I cannot read it and can only look through the pictures. The general question that always comes to my mind during viewing: are all the blades and dresses in this book really old? The dresses there look often like a modern work from Lombok.

17th July 2009, 08:51 AM	#3
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,273	Alan, thank You for Your very interesting response. May I ask, was impossible to read it because of the language itself, or because of terminology? I can imagine, You have tryed 25 years ago all possible, and with every year there are less and less people with knowledge about old culture. (I have heard, the older dalangs are still able to read the ancient language. But of course, it is a very naive thought.) Tatyana, I think the same about the dresses. But sometimes it seems to me, there is an older stile, the ornamental lines are smaller and somehow very graceful curved. One of such keris is on de Vries catalogue, fairly in the middle with the black gandar and kekandikan. (Of course it is even not an opinion.)

17th July 2009, 09:48 AM	#4
Jussi M. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 235	Beautiful keris Gustav. Do you have pics of the sheath? Thanks, J

17th July 2009, 11:00 AM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,273	Hello Jussi! there was no sheath, unfortunately. But if it would be as enigmatic in the way the connexion between uwer and the hilt is ... probably better so