Sumatran / Bugis ID

Moshah · 28th October 2009, 02:33 AM

Hi Sajen,

The hilt is sea ivory, I've been told. Looks like a Palembang hilt, wasn't it?

I don't know very much about Bugis keris, didn't see very much good example as well, but I feel that this piece was no Bugis.

Was the sogokan is familiar to bugis keris?

BTW, the hilt, close-up:

David · 28th October 2009, 03:41 AM

Wow, the hilt is really sweet!
Moshah, the Bugis were all over the area. They had settlements everywhere. There were Bugis in Sumatra as well as many other areas. The Bugis were a seafaring peole. They got around. But the sheath looks Sulawesi to me.

Sajen · 28th October 2009, 11:54 PM

Very nice hilt but don't need to be from Palembang, every other region of Sumatra is possible, my 2 cent opinion.

kai · 30th October 2009, 10:39 AM

Hello Moshah,

Congrats, nice keris!

The carving work on this nice Jawa Demam is not typical for Palembang and does show some Bugis influence IMHO (carving details like the pattern on the throat).

Also, I wouldn't rule out a Sulawesi origin of the blade. Have been wrong before though...

Regards,
Kai

Moshah · 30th October 2009, 04:48 PM

Well fellas, it ain't mine yet...

However, the hilt's carving is something really new to me. And it looks like modernized motives being used. Pardon my knowledge, but that's what I see.

Is the carving only have Bugis' motives on the throat, instead of the whole carving works, Kai?

Yeah, David, Bugises were seafaring people, and now I understand why their influence is everywhere...BTW which part of the sheath are Sulawesi? The pendok? or the sampir / wronko?

Sajen · 30th October 2009, 05:38 PM

I still vote for Bugis Riau, the keris have Bugis and Sumatra influence. Warangka and pendokok looks Bugis and pendok looks sumatran while the hilt have influence from both and the blade seems to be sumatran. I think that it is a very nice old keris, so far you can see it by pictures.

Detlef

Moshah · 30th October 2009, 06:00 PM

I believe it is a good keris too, detlef. (or should i called u sajen?)

If I was not mistaken, I can see that the blade has been warang / etched / stained. If it was a bugis-riau keris, do it still need the warangan? Didn't by undid the warangan, the pamor can't be seen clearly like this?

What pattern of pamor is that? I think I've seen such pamor in some sumatran kerises, but I dunno what name it goes...

If it was an old keris, it was so lucky to be in right hands, since very little trace of damages can be found there...

David · 31st October 2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moshah

Yeah, David, Bugises were seafaring people, and now I understand why their influence is everywhere...BTW which part of the sheath are Sulawesi? The pendok? or the sampir / wronko?

Here is a Sulawesi keris. The motifs on the pendok are extremely similar to yours.

A. G. Maisey · 31st October 2009, 12:34 PM

It is not a Javanese blade. Having said that I will add that from the pic I don't know what it is. There are Eastern Island elements, Bugis elements, and Sumatra elements---even a touch of Bali. At the moment I wouldn't be prepared to back anything.

Silver is very easy to ID with test acid. If you do not have your own test acid, a jeweller can ID silver in two seconds flat.

The difference in value between silver of any grade and mamas, nickel silver, white brass, silver plate, and any other look-a-likes is immense. A bottle of test acid costs almost zilch. Fifty years ago I decided that self protection was the best policy and bought a little bottle of test acid, I've never been without one since.

Personally, I think this keris is a dealers melange---pieces from different places mated for purpose of sale.

28th October 2009, 02:33 AM	#1
Moshah Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 171	Hi Sajen, The hilt is sea ivory, I've been told. Looks like a Palembang hilt, wasn't it? I don't know very much about Bugis keris, didn't see very much good example as well, but I feel that this piece was no Bugis. Was the sogokan is familiar to bugis keris? BTW, the hilt, close-up: Attached Images

28th October 2009, 03:41 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,229	Wow, the hilt is really sweet! Moshah, the Bugis were all over the area. They had settlements everywhere. There were Bugis in Sumatra as well as many other areas. The Bugis were a seafaring peole. They got around. But the sheath looks Sulawesi to me.

28th October 2009, 11:54 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,270	Very nice hilt but don't need to be from Palembang, every other region of Sumatra is possible, my 2 cent opinion.

30th October 2009, 10:39 AM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Moshah, Congrats, nice keris! The carving work on this nice Jawa Demam is not typical for Palembang and does show some Bugis influence IMHO (carving details like the pattern on the throat). Also, I wouldn't rule out a Sulawesi origin of the blade. Have been wrong before though... Regards, Kai

30th October 2009, 04:48 PM	#5
Moshah Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 171	Well fellas, it ain't mine yet... However, the hilt's carving is something really new to me. And it looks like modernized motives being used. Pardon my knowledge, but that's what I see. Is the carving only have Bugis' motives on the throat, instead of the whole carving works, Kai? Yeah, David, Bugises were seafaring people, and now I understand why their influence is everywhere...BTW which part of the sheath are Sulawesi? The pendok? or the sampir / wronko?

30th October 2009, 05:38 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,270	I still vote for Bugis Riau, the keris have Bugis and Sumatra influence. Warangka and pendokok looks Bugis and pendok looks sumatran while the hilt have influence from both and the blade seems to be sumatran. I think that it is a very nice old keris, so far you can see it by pictures. Detlef

30th October 2009, 06:00 PM	#7
Moshah Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 171	I believe it is a good keris too, detlef. (or should i called u sajen?) If I was not mistaken, I can see that the blade has been warang / etched / stained. If it was a bugis-riau keris, do it still need the warangan? Didn't by undid the warangan, the pamor can't be seen clearly like this? What pattern of pamor is that? I think I've seen such pamor in some sumatran kerises, but I dunno what name it goes... If it was an old keris, it was so lucky to be in right hands, since very little trace of damages can be found there...

31st October 2009, 12:34 PM	#9
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	It is not a Javanese blade. Having said that I will add that from the pic I don't know what it is. There are Eastern Island elements, Bugis elements, and Sumatra elements---even a touch of Bali. At the moment I wouldn't be prepared to back anything. Silver is very easy to ID with test acid. If you do not have your own test acid, a jeweller can ID silver in two seconds flat. The difference in value between silver of any grade and mamas, nickel silver, white brass, silver plate, and any other look-a-likes is immense. A bottle of test acid costs almost zilch. Fifty years ago I decided that self protection was the best policy and bought a little bottle of test acid, I've never been without one since. Personally, I think this keris is a dealers melange---pieces from different places mated for purpose of sale.