My new baby :)

[BluErf]

South Sumatran keris with sampir that looks like a kerbau head. I had another one a while back, but the sampir was not as defined as this. Will post some pics of that in the next post.

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

[BluErf]

The other one I used to have. While the hilt forms look like one of the Palembang forms, such kerises almost always have this figural hilt form, compared to the Palembang kerises, which are more commonly found with garuda hilts. I feel (yes, 'gut feel') that these sort of kerises are not Palembang kerises, but from 'off-centres' close to Palembang, much like the way off-central Javanese kerises are influenced by Solo and Yogya kerises, but bearing their own stylistic uniqueness.

[VVV]

Hi Kai Wee,

I haven't seen a Keris like that before.
It's also interesting with the protrusions at the lower part of the sampir.
The carvings on the hilt (Topeng?) and the "Batman ears".
Some claims this hilt to be Durga.
Maybe that's why the face carvings doesn't show eyes, nose etc. as expected on other hilts with this amount of carved motifs?
Do you know for sure that it's from off-Palembang?

Thanks for sharing,

Michael

[Alam Shah]

Congratulations BluErf on yet another nice-looking piece.


I've seen 'batman' pieces like these before far from Palembang.
The attached example was found in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan Islands,
(south east off Singapore). I'm not sure of the origin, though.

[David]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

I've seen 'batman' pieces like these before far from Palembang.
The attached example was found in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan Islands,
(south east off Singapore). I'm not sure of the origin, though.

I might be wrong, but i believe Michael was referring to the hilt with his "batman" attribution, not the sheath.
Very unusual keris Kai Wee (the first one). I have never seen this variation on this hilt form which is generally plain like your second example (is this one missing it's metal "ferrule"?). The carved markings are nice. And i agree with Michael, it does indeed resemble batman.

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by David

I might be wrong, but i believe Michael was referring to the hilt with his "batman" attribution, not the sheath.

David, I know Michael was referring to the hilt, but the sheath looks batman too, (to me, at least).

Originally Posted by David

Very unusual keris Kai Wee (the first one). I have never seen this variation on this hilt form which is generally plain like your second example (is this one missing it's metal "ferrule"?). The carved markings are nice. And i agree with Michael, it does indeed resemble batman.

The hilt is quite rare... I've seen it in Kerner's book (if I recall correctly). None physically.

The whole ensemble have Palembang influence, though.