Just a small question that had me very curious...

ThePepperSkull · 23rd December 2009, 07:42 AM

I was wondering if you wonderful gentlemen at the Keris Worung Kopi could answer me this question. I've looked for an answer before asking here because it seems like such a minuscule question to ask, especially to start a whole topic for, but It's been keeping me up and I can't for the life of me figure it out!

Basically what I want to know is about blade fittings: Is it considered bad form to have a keris blade made from one region, and then have a handle or sheath for it made in another? For example, if I had a blade that exhibited, say, very Javanese characteristics, would it look ridiculous to the seasoned Keris enthusiast if it had a Balinese hilt?

EDIT: I found the answer here. Apologies for wasting bandwidth!

It [the hilt] is one of the prominent ways of recognizing the origin of a Keris. However, the Ukiran does not always match the Warangka. For instance a Keris owner might want to combine the magnificence of a Madura Ukiran with the elegance a Surakarta ladrang Warangka.

A. G. Maisey · 23rd December 2009, 09:20 AM

This is only a small part of the answer, as this question is not a small nor an insignificant one.

Going back to the time of Majapahit, Javanese blades were traded right across the S.E. Asian region, so there are many very old blades that originated in Jawa, but that were originally dressed with scabbard and hilt from a different area.

This mixture of blade from one area and dress from another has continued through into the early 20th century, and it is not at all uncommon to find a blade that displays, say, Bugis, or perhaps Javanese characteristics dressed in Sumatra or other scabbard and hilt.

In Bali, many of the highly honoured old blades are actually of Javanese origin, and have been dressed in Balinese scabbard and hilt for perhaps several hundred years.

Conversely, in Jawa, Balinese and Madurese mercenaries were hired by local rulers, and some of these mercenaries became elite palace guards. Because they were in a formal situation, they were required to dress their keris in the correct style for the court of the ruler they served. In the Mangkunegaraan palace in Solo you can see keris that belonged to Balinese and Madurese palace guards that have their own unique style of dress, neither 100% Solonese of the Mankunegaraan style, nor Balinese, nor Madurese.

In a court situation it was and is required that keris conform to the correct dress requirements, so a courtier who perhaps may have had an heirloom keris from one area, would be required to have dress of the correct style to conform with the requiremnents of the court he served.

In Jawa it is regarded as somewhat ridiculous to fit a keris in say, Surakarta formal scabbard, with a hilt from Madura, however, collectors, most especially collectors in the western world are very partial to the mixing of superbly elegant Madura ivory hilts with superbly elegant Surakarta or Jogjakarta scabbards:- it looks utterly ridiculous to somebody from Surakarta, or from Madura, but to the western based owner it looks beautiful, and since he does not have to wear it at court, who will argue with him?

As a general rule, dress for a blade maintains strict conformity in those places which are under direct influence of a court, and further we travel from the court, the more deviation from conformity we see, however, even though dress may maintain conformity, the blades in that dress can sometimes vary in respect of their origin.

Henk · 23rd December 2009, 10:28 AM

ThePepperSkull,

I think you started a great topic. With a great answer from Alan.
The trading of Javanese blades troughout the whole Archipello, that made that we find Javanese blades in different dresses according to the area where the blade was bought and blades from other areas dressed in the style of the court where the owner served.

I remember also reading in a book and unfortunately i cann't recall what book it was, probably Dutch, that warriors who damaged the dress of the keris replaced the damaged part at the place where they found a mrangi, a woodcarver. That would explain for instance, the marriage of a maduran blade with a maduran ukiran in a javanese scabbard and other marriages that look ridicoulous.

Comes immediately up in my mind the thought that a warrior when he came home immediately would change the replaced dresspart for the one from the area he originated. The only reason not to do so could be the lack of money to buy a new dresspart for the keris.

But i completely agree with Alan that many of the rehilted keris we see, mainly the javanese with a balinese, maduran or even a sumatran ukiran, preferable ivory, is the result of taste of the western collectors.

Moshah · 23rd December 2009, 11:02 AM

Hi.

Keris trade activities also is one of main reason why the wilah-ukiran-wronko uniformity are not strictly followed and founded, although this is not always the case.

As most old blade pieces do stand the test of time, its hilt and sheath sometimes do not.

However, do blades are always the determinant of the origin?

While I am unsure of whether javanese / buginese / sumatran blades are, patani / southern thailand kerises like tajong and coteng are recognized by its hilts and sheaths. Although they do have their own specific blades, sometimes it can be of different styles anyway.

Rick · 23rd December 2009, 03:51 PM

Another question I might add is :

Did the old Jawa makers manufacture keris in other than Javanese dapurs expressly for export ?

David · 23rd December 2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moshah

However, do blades are always the determinant of the origin?

From what i have seen the origin of a keris is generally determined by it's dress. I think this is because the term "keris" refers not only to the blade itself, but is often meant to refer to the entire ensemble.
Of course this becomes difficult when you have a Javanese keris in a Surakarta wrongko with a Maduran ivory hilt.

Personally i prefer to collect keris that are culturally correct as the understanding of the culture is an important aspect of my collecting. Sometimes that might mean having a mix of dress and blade origins as sometimes these mixes have been historical demanded by the culture as has been mentioned, but i am afraid that most often when we see these mixed keris on the market that they are the "dealers special" aimed at a western market that is looking more for flair and artistry than cultural reality.

ThePepperSkull · 23rd December 2009, 07:21 PM

Oh, wow! Thanks for the input and answers; I really really appreciate them. You guys have given me a whole lot to think about.

In fact, I have a few follow up questions:

Are there any cultural implications when mixing ukiran from one area to a blade or a warangka from another? Is there a combination that should be avoided due to cultural significance?

Have there been historical instances, other than the necessity for a new fitting for the blade (be it from damage to previous fittings or the requirements of law), of an ukiran/warangka of differing regions to be used on a blade? Did the Indonesian Keris owner of old mix parts of his own choosing or is this a recently new, more western concept to mix-and-match for aesthetic choices?

23rd December 2009, 07:42 AM	#1
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	Just a small question that had me very curious... I was wondering if you wonderful gentlemen at the Keris Worung Kopi could answer me this question. I've looked for an answer before asking here because it seems like such a minuscule question to ask, especially to start a whole topic for, but It's been keeping me up and I can't for the life of me figure it out! Basically what I want to know is about blade fittings: Is it considered bad form to have a keris blade made from one region, and then have a handle or sheath for it made in another? For example, if I had a blade that exhibited, say, very Javanese characteristics, would it look ridiculous to the seasoned Keris enthusiast if it had a Balinese hilt? EDIT: I found the answer here. Apologies for wasting bandwidth! It [the hilt] is one of the prominent ways of recognizing the origin of a Keris. However, the Ukiran does not always match the Warangka. For instance a Keris owner might want to combine the magnificence of a Madura Ukiran with the elegance a Surakarta ladrang Warangka. Last edited by ThePepperSkull; 23rd December 2009 at 07:52 AM.

23rd December 2009, 09:20 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,898	This is only a small part of the answer, as this question is not a small nor an insignificant one. Going back to the time of Majapahit, Javanese blades were traded right across the S.E. Asian region, so there are many very old blades that originated in Jawa, but that were originally dressed with scabbard and hilt from a different area. This mixture of blade from one area and dress from another has continued through into the early 20th century, and it is not at all uncommon to find a blade that displays, say, Bugis, or perhaps Javanese characteristics dressed in Sumatra or other scabbard and hilt. In Bali, many of the highly honoured old blades are actually of Javanese origin, and have been dressed in Balinese scabbard and hilt for perhaps several hundred years. Conversely, in Jawa, Balinese and Madurese mercenaries were hired by local rulers, and some of these mercenaries became elite palace guards. Because they were in a formal situation, they were required to dress their keris in the correct style for the court of the ruler they served. In the Mangkunegaraan palace in Solo you can see keris that belonged to Balinese and Madurese palace guards that have their own unique style of dress, neither 100% Solonese of the Mankunegaraan style, nor Balinese, nor Madurese. In a court situation it was and is required that keris conform to the correct dress requirements, so a courtier who perhaps may have had an heirloom keris from one area, would be required to have dress of the correct style to conform with the requiremnents of the court he served. In Jawa it is regarded as somewhat ridiculous to fit a keris in say, Surakarta formal scabbard, with a hilt from Madura, however, collectors, most especially collectors in the western world are very partial to the mixing of superbly elegant Madura ivory hilts with superbly elegant Surakarta or Jogjakarta scabbards:- it looks utterly ridiculous to somebody from Surakarta, or from Madura, but to the western based owner it looks beautiful, and since he does not have to wear it at court, who will argue with him? As a general rule, dress for a blade maintains strict conformity in those places which are under direct influence of a court, and further we travel from the court, the more deviation from conformity we see, however, even though dress may maintain conformity, the blades in that dress can sometimes vary in respect of their origin.

23rd December 2009, 10:28 AM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	ThePepperSkull, I think you started a great topic. With a great answer from Alan. The trading of Javanese blades troughout the whole Archipello, that made that we find Javanese blades in different dresses according to the area where the blade was bought and blades from other areas dressed in the style of the court where the owner served. I remember also reading in a book and unfortunately i cann't recall what book it was, probably Dutch, that warriors who damaged the dress of the keris replaced the damaged part at the place where they found a mrangi, a woodcarver. That would explain for instance, the marriage of a maduran blade with a maduran ukiran in a javanese scabbard and other marriages that look ridicoulous. Comes immediately up in my mind the thought that a warrior when he came home immediately would change the replaced dresspart for the one from the area he originated. The only reason not to do so could be the lack of money to buy a new dresspart for the keris. But i completely agree with Alan that many of the rehilted keris we see, mainly the javanese with a balinese, maduran or even a sumatran ukiran, preferable ivory, is the result of taste of the western collectors.

23rd December 2009, 11:02 AM	#4
Moshah Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 171	Hi. Keris trade activities also is one of main reason why the wilah-ukiran-wronko uniformity are not strictly followed and founded, although this is not always the case. As most old blade pieces do stand the test of time, its hilt and sheath sometimes do not. However, do blades are always the determinant of the origin? While I am unsure of whether javanese / buginese / sumatran blades are, patani / southern thailand kerises like tajong and coteng are recognized by its hilts and sheaths. Although they do have their own specific blades, sometimes it can be of different styles anyway.

23rd December 2009, 03:51 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,294	Another question I might add is : Did the old Jawa makers manufacture keris in other than Javanese dapurs expressly for export ?

23rd December 2009, 07:21 PM	#7
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	Oh, wow! Thanks for the input and answers; I really really appreciate them. You guys have given me a whole lot to think about. In fact, I have a few follow up questions: Are there any cultural implications when mixing ukiran from one area to a blade or a warangka from another? Is there a combination that should be avoided due to cultural significance? Have there been historical instances, other than the necessity for a new fitting for the blade (be it from damage to previous fittings or the requirements of law), of an ukiran/warangka of differing regions to be used on a blade? Did the Indonesian Keris owner of old mix parts of his own choosing or is this a recently new, more western concept to mix-and-match for aesthetic choices?