Sumatran keris with original warangka.

[Athanase]

Hello,

When I saw this keris I immediately liked the original form of warangka.
The blade looks old and I didn't have this type of hilt (veiled Durga?). I don't know if it's really old keris but I made an impulse buy.
(The ganga is not separated from the blade)

I sure it's Sumatran keris. But where in Sumatra?
I found on internet that the hilt is typical of Jambi.

[David]

Cetainly a keris of some age Athanase. I do like this style of sheath. The hilt form is not what we generally consider a "veiled Durga" and i have always considered this form to depict a male character. I like this blade. It would be nice to see it in better stain.

[Gustav]

Sheath and hilt is typical Lampung style. Also the blade looks South Sumatran.

[Jean]

I agree with the South Sumatra origin but possibly Bengkulu rather than Lampung. This style of hilt is locally called putri malu (shy princess) and this style of scabbard is also found in Jambi indeed.
Regards

[Gustav]

Two relevant threads from past:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=pasemah

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=karimun

Regarding the sheath, it is indeed one of the typical Lampung styles.

[Gustav]

It appears, it's "locally called" Putri Malu also in Lampung ...

[Athanase]

Bengkulu and Lampung ...
So we can conclude that these styles sheath and handle are present in an area covering the provinces of Bengkulu and Lampung. Presumably this Keris probably comes from the southern end of West Sumatra (the western part of Lampung Province). no?

[Gustav]

From #63 on:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=putri+malu

I honestly don't know, since when this style became associated with Bengkulu and Jambi...

[Sajen]

Agree with the others, South Sumatera, Bengkulu or Lampung. Nice keris!

Regards,
Detlef

[David]

Originally Posted by Gustav

It appears, it's "locally called" Putri Malu also in Lampung ...

Can we trace the use of this name for this hilt back beyond contemporary times. I see absolutely no indication of any feminine anatomy in this hilt form. This is not true of the so-called durga or wotan hilts of Jawa or Bali. While this is certainly an abstraction of form i would expect to see at least some hint of female form in a hilt intended to represent a woman. I wonder is this name is simply another modern invention as so many names in the keris world today seem to be.