Jawa Demam?
 

This keris recently ended on eBay. I was intrigued by it's hilt, which to my eyes appears to be a more figurative representation of the Jawa Demam. I have never seen this form so humanized, though we do certainly see less abstracted forms, especially out of Sumatra. Paul de Souza comments on his website that while some have claimed the Jawa Demam form to be an abstracted Garuda, there is some evidence that it is the form of a man.
http://home.pacific.net.sg/~dspf/hilt.html
Is this hilt the proof? :shrug:
On the other hand, i don't think this hilt is particularly old so it could be a more modern revisioning of supposed origin. :shrug:

Really Human
 

You want a human form ?
This hilt is from an old tombak dressed for the tourist market. :D

It's not so much that this is a human form Rick as much as it has all the same body positions of the Jawa Demam hilts. Unfortunately there weren't too many other views on the auction, but i think if you look you can see the "hump" that you find on the backs of many Jawa Demam. The arm positions seem similar and the figure is leaning forward as if doubling over. The example you present i wouldn't think of as a Jawa Demam.

Non Abstract Figure ?
 

Hmm, I see basic elements of the form in that hilt .
Drawn up knees; arm wrapped around the body .. :shrug:

How about this? Could it be considered Jawa Demam? :confused:
A more handsome-looking old man.:D

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=260

I think the elements are there.
The arm or arms across the belly are (I believe) the key to this form.

Well, i wouldn't say definitely not. ;)
But it does seem that the hilt i posted has a more direct connection to the hilts we know as Jawa Demam. But all these hilts could be various depictions of the same subject. :shrug:

Hmmm... the form just doesn't flow. It looks a bit too 'ethnographic'. :D

Which particular form that's been shown are you referring to Kai Wee ? :)

Also, now that we have seen a couple of 'possible' related Jawa Demam forms does anyone have an unabstract (to a degree) example of a Garuda hilt ?
If not then when and how does the Jawa Demam morph into the Garuda form ?

Even if the base is curved, in my opinion David's hilt could be not from Sumatra but from Jawa.
The type seems to be rather recent and could be from Madura or near Tegal (model Wayang type).