Advice on another keris

adamb · 23rd October 2024, 05:38 AM

Hello again,

I was gifted this keris when in Makassar. The person who gave it to me did not know much about it, other than that it was from Java or Bali and that the figural motif in the handle is a representation of Ganesha.

The blade is very thin and when it is being removed from the warangka or 'dinged' with one's finger it makes a pleasing ringing sound, which I'm told is a sign of quality.

Any insight/opinions on the characteristics of this keris much welcome.

Am I right that it is Javanese?

Cheers

David · 24th October 2024, 12:07 AM

Hi Adam and welcome to the forum.
The blade, wrongko and mendhak all appear to be Javanese to me. The Ganesha hilt is most certainly Balinese. If this were mine i would replace the hilt with a basic planar style Javanese hilt like i show below and maybe just display the Balinese hilt, which seems a fair mid-late 20th century carving.
The blade is not old IMHO and show an Udan Mas, or Golden Rain pamor.

adamb · 25th October 2024, 01:00 AM

Thank you David, your insight, and advice, much appreciated.

Best wishes
Adam

jagabuwana · Yesterday, 04:46 AM

Interesting blade for me to think about.

I see a very beefy blade with a blumbangan boto rubuh (but arguably square) and a short sirah cecak profile.

Perhaps naively I would have placed this as North Coast, but something about the pamor and overall impression makes me wonder if it's kamardikan.

What are we thinking?

David · Yesterday, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagabuwana

Interesting blade for me to think about.

I see a very beefy blade with a blumbangan boto rubuh (but arguably square) and a short sirah cecak profile.

Perhaps naively I would have placed this as North Coast, but something about the pamor and overall impression makes me wonder if it's kamardikan.

What are we thinking?

I thought so as well.

milandro · Today, 12:22 PM

I would say this is a Kamardikan blade.

Incidentally, I see lots of blades with Udan Mas pamor being marketd in recent times and , at least in the NL, they are popular among traders because the market responds very favourably to it.

I know of at least one trader who targets this pamor in particular.

The hilt, very nice by the way, is as others have said, incongruous to the Kris, it is Balinese while the rest isn't. I'd replace it and keep the hilt for another Balinese kris with a lesser hilt than this and replace it with this nice specimen.

Well done!

Gustav · Today, 01:01 PM

There is a possibility this is a reworked older blade. It is not uncommon to take an older blade with Pamor Wos Wutah and change it to a blade with the "wealth bringing" Pamor Udan Man. Such altered blades are very thin.

I am not sure about that, but I think I also see an indicator the blade was reheated at some point.

23rd October 2024, 05:38 AM	#1
adamb Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 7	Advice on another keris Hello again, I was gifted this keris when in Makassar. The person who gave it to me did not know much about it, other than that it was from Java or Bali and that the figural motif in the handle is a representation of Ganesha. The blade is very thin and when it is being removed from the warangka or 'dinged' with one's finger it makes a pleasing ringing sound, which I'm told is a sign of quality. Any insight/opinions on the characteristics of this keris much welcome. Am I right that it is Javanese? Cheers Attached Images

24th October 2024, 12:07 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	Hi Adam and welcome to the forum. The blade, wrongko and mendhak all appear to be Javanese to me. The Ganesha hilt is most certainly Balinese. If this were mine i would replace the hilt with a basic planar style Javanese hilt like i show below and maybe just display the Balinese hilt, which seems a fair mid-late 20th century carving. The blade is not old IMHO and show an Udan Mas, or Golden Rain pamor. Attached Images

25th October 2024, 01:00 AM	#3
adamb Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 7	Thank you David, your insight, and advice, much appreciated. Best wishes Adam

Yesterday, 04:46 AM	#4
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 281	Interesting blade for me to think about. I see a very beefy blade with a blumbangan boto rubuh (but arguably square) and a short sirah cecak profile. Perhaps naively I would have placed this as North Coast, but something about the pamor and overall impression makes me wonder if it's kamardikan. What are we thinking?

Today, 12:22 PM	#6
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 475	I would say this is a Kamardikan blade. Incidentally, I see lots of blades with Udan Mas pamor being marketd in recent times and , at least in the NL, they are popular among traders because the market responds very favourably to it. I know of at least one trader who targets this pamor in particular. The hilt, very nice by the way, is as others have said, incongruous to the Kris, it is Balinese while the rest isn't. I'd replace it and keep the hilt for another Balinese kris with a lesser hilt than this and replace it with this nice specimen. Well done!

Today, 01:01 PM	#7
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,248	There is a possibility this is a reworked older blade. It is not uncommon to take an older blade with Pamor Wos Wutah and change it to a blade with the "wealth bringing" Pamor Udan Man. Such altered blades are very thin. I am not sure about that, but I think I also see an indicator the blade was reheated at some point.