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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 45
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Gentlemen,
here is a Keris that I got a while ago. I was told it is from Bali or Lombok. The hilt is pleasantly simple. Can someone add to the above description? Maybe put in a date range? There seem to be some ribbons missing around the sheeth. What would it have to look like if it were complete? Many questions from a learner. Thanks in advance for any input, taube. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,740
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A good and old kris blade from Bali or Lombok, congratulations! The cylindrical hilt is in locengan style with plaited horse or human hair (?), and the scabbard is in rustic sandang walikat style but not specific from the region.
Regards |
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#3 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
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With Bali and Lombok it is often very difficult to tell since Bali ruled Lombok for a bit of time. The missing "ribbons" on the sheath stem were most probably a simple rattan weave. As Jean has pointed out, the walikat style sheath is somewhat rustic and i have never see that little belt stop on the top part on a keris sheath before.
The blade is certainly antique, but i am not particularly good at pinpointed such things. Always very difficult with keris considering that styles are repeated again and again many years after the time they originally appeared. I think it would be fair to say that yours appears to be at least from the first half of the 19th century though it may indeed be older. I would say the horse hair is more likely than human in these hilts. I have been told that this style of hilt was often employed by warriors as these hilts provide a good grip. But that might be nonsense for all i know. ![]() |
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#4 |
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,853
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I have no disagreement with the above comments.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 425
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I have a keris with that style of hilt; it's the only one I have that actually feels like a weapon, in hand. The hilt combined with the blade and the overall balance leaves little doubt in my mind.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 45
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Thanks everybody!
Happy to read it is a truely historical and maybe even utility item. @Bob: Would you mind showing your Keris with the similar hilt? Best. taube. |
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#7 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2009
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![]() Quote:
According to Djelenga who was a respected kris collector & book author from Lombok, these hilts were used by young people, especially priests and nobles. The warriors apparently used the large cekah solas hilts (see pic) which makes sense as the grip is excellent. And at the request from Taube I attach the pic of one of my krisses with a similar hilt. Regards |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 313
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Agree with what other friends have said. A very nice keris ! As to the origin, I would suggest most likely Lombok, but may be wrong. The ring (uwer) between hilt and ganja is missing. It is easy to find a recently made substitute, but this keris deserves something better: an old uwer. This is not so easy to find, but not impossible. Take your time and follow auction sites.
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#9 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 45
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Thanks again, gentlemen.
The similar hilt shown is very interesting. The uwer looks to be all metal, without gems? What kind of uwer would be appropriate for my keris? Have a nice weekend, taube. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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Taube, I have seen many more older Balinese keris, especially relatively simple old keris, without uwer than I have seen with uwer, as for "gems" are these really requisite in a very simple Sudra keris such as this one?
I rather think not. I would be inclined to leave this keris exactly as it is. Yeah, I know I'm swimming against the tide, but sometimes bling is just simply out of place. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
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I am inclined to agree with Alan here. Too much bling ("gems") would certainly seem out of place to me. A simple silver uwer might be more appropriate, though does not really seem necessary for this piece. If you were to decide to place one on this keris i also don't think seeking out a much more expensive antique uwer makes any difference. What you certainly don't want is something that looks cheaply made as some of the new ones on the market do, but many new users are well crafted and look just fine.
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
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#14 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
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Ps, the blade appears to have most of its Original finish. just preserve it as it is. Last edited by asomotif; 9th October 2016 at 10:47 PM. |
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