1st September 2019, 02:47 AM | #1 |
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First Keris
I picked up this small Keris the other week and it is my first foray into this type of weapon. I just liked the wood work and its small nature.
I believe it is an Indonesian Buginese keris from Sulawesi. As to age i'm not sure but would suspect late 19th early 20th C. Not an area that i think i will move into in a big way but nice to have some examples. Comments welcome. Thanks |
1st September 2019, 03:39 AM | #2 |
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Well, i'd say you made a might fine "first foray" into the world of keris. This looks like a fine original example of a 19th century Bugis keris. I would also say Sulawesi.
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1st September 2019, 07:26 AM | #3 |
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Well, Bugis-influenced for sure - most likely Sumatra (East coast). A fine ensemble, congrats!
Yes, these blades tend to be on the small side. I'd be guessing at 19th c. (no signs of 20th c manufacture in my book). Regards, Kai |
1st September 2019, 07:32 AM | #4 |
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Exactly, Sumatra or the South of Malay Peninsula.
Only hilt looks a bit like Sulawesi yet has an atypical high Bungkul, to accommodate a longer Pesi then usual for Sulawesi. |
1st September 2019, 12:02 PM | #5 |
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Kai and Gustav,
Could you please explain to us why you are rather placing this kris In East Sumatra or South Malaysia and not Sulawesi? I don't necessarily disagree but I am not sure myself. BTW the selut is oversized (so not original to the hilt) and should preferably be replaced. Regards |
1st September 2019, 12:11 PM | #6 | |
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1st September 2019, 12:12 PM | #7 | |
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1st September 2019, 03:36 PM | #8 |
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Agree with Kai and Gustav, Sumatra or South of Malay Peninsula. Very nice first keris, congrats!
Regards, Detlef |
1st September 2019, 08:17 PM | #9 | |
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What is the blade length please? Regards |
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1st September 2019, 09:58 PM | #10 | ||
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Hello Jean,
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These small-size blades are very common in the Melakka Straits area (Gustav is correct that it's usually next to impossible to distinguish between the eastern Sumatran coast and the western Malay coast). The very bulky crosspieces seem to have been especially favored along the Sumatran East coast down to Jambi and Palembang; including the islands off the Sumatran coast, the odds are kinda swayed towards Sumatra rather than Johore and neighboring areas though. Also the flow of lines of the blade tends to be more subtle for keris Melayu while those from Sulawesi tend to be more bold. Quote:
Regards, Kai |
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2nd September 2019, 10:10 AM | #11 |
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Thank you Kai, I basically agree with you especially about the tapered stems (ref. the book Senjata pusaka Bugis for instance) but as you say it is tough to generalize. Some Bugis scabbards from East Sumatra or Malaysia are quite small and have a different style of sampir with small "horns" at the tips (like Detlef's specimen), or a rounded stem tip.
What about the hilts? Regards Last edited by Jean; 2nd September 2019 at 10:23 AM. |
2nd September 2019, 10:31 AM | #12 | |
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2nd September 2019, 12:06 PM | #13 | |
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Regards |
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