Keris acquired in Makassar
 

Hi All:

I acquired this Keris in Makassar recently. Would like descriptive commentary.

Allegedly from the 1600's. Bugis Kris : Raja Mandar - Ammana Wewang.

Has Arabic and Old Buginese language inscriptions, Does anyone know where to get Old Buginese language looked at/or translated.

Ken

Welcome to the forum Ken. What are the dress materials? Looks like copper and brass. Would that be correct? And sign of gold plating? Have you had the metals tested?
Bugis keris are not my strong point, but i would say the 1600s date you were given is quite optimistic. Without a better look (better photos would be helpful) i would feel more comfortable with placing the blade somewhere in the 19th century, perhaps a little earlier. The dress may be later though.
If you present close-ups of the writing someone here might well be able to translate it. Most probably they are verses from the Quran.

I have to agree with David. The dress (and pants :D ) look much later and not of the same quality that I have seen of older work. The blade also makes me think it is late 19th century at the earliest, though I could be wrong.

Hi Thanks for the replies..

I will have the metals tested and report back.

Ken

Hello Ken,

welcome! I really want to see better pictures before I would like to give a comment, all what I can say that it isn't new.

Regards,
Detlef

Thanks Ken. Keep in mind that making assessments of keris based solely upon photos is always trick. However, some sharp close-ups in better light would be helpful. Try to photograph the blade without flash on a bright, but overcast day. That should give you some better results.

A good point David. Hard to tell for sure with these pictures.

Yes i see this keris from Makassar, because the model luk is Bugis model, and i see SEPPU (hamon) in 'baja' or SEPPU on the sharp side. This is special keris and very rare because it has a bloodline, there is rarely a keris Bugis like this. Usually found on keris used in warfare by freedom fighters and the army earlier times.

K-biz, Hi.
If you want to post your pictures in this forum you must upload the images to this site.