Keris for comments

[Bill M]

My first post in this forum. I have a few keris, mostly Java and Bali with a few others. My focus has been on Moro, but am re-developing an interest in the Indonesian varieties, particularly the Javanese and Balinese.

I have this keris on loan from a friend. She mainly collects African artifacts, but came across this keris. I am guessing Madura. Would appreciate frank comments.

The blade is in serious need of cleaning and staining. I have her permsiion to do this and may give it a try if it would be worth it.

Comments?

[Rick]

That's a pretty nice Gabilan style piece Bill .
If it's a souvenir it's a very nice one .

The blade is lovely from what I can see but as you say it needs cleaning .
A soak in pineapple juice might be called for as a starter .

The horse motif is nicely carried over to the pendok .

[Newsteel]

Yup, a madura keris it is. As Rick mentioned, you need to clean it to remove all the rust, using citrus or pineapple juice to start. The blade may not be the best workmanship but interestingly, the pamor is not common. Here you have pamor dhadung muntir (in javanese term for twisting rope?). Overall, its a nice keris. You may want to change the hilt. I prefer the hilt to be something like below.

[ferrylaki]

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

My first post in this forum. I have a few keris, mostly Java and Bali with a few others. My focus has been on Moro, but am re-developing an interest in the Indonesian varieties, particularly the Javanese and Balinese.

I have this keris on loan from a friend. She mainly collects African artifacts, but came across this keris. I am guessing Madura. Would appreciate frank comments.

The blade is in serious need of cleaning and staining. I have her permsiion to do this and may give it a try if it would be worth it.

Comments?

warangka : maduranese
dhapur : sinom
pamor : dadung muntir ( twisted rope)

the graneng and the other ricikan like sogokan and tikel alis was not well executed. it's a new keris from madura.
how ever, recent keris from madura are also made in a traditional way.

the mendak(ring) is a low quality one, the handle shows a crack in the midle,
couse it made from sawo wood ( not a hard one). the carvings are very fine.

regards

[Bill M]

Thank you for your comments and please keep them coming.

I have a few other keris that I may be posting. I have been trying to decide the appropriateness of posting blade pictures as I believe this is considered not proper among Javanese collectors.

However, as a one poster on this forum once told me, "When these keris come to my country, they become my country subjects and not under Javanese customs."

So, maybe I'll be posting a few pictures of better pieces -- American-Javanese and American-Balinese -- for your comments.

[Henk]

Bill,

That's a lovely maduran keris. Worth cleaning and staining.
The ukiran is the cuirassier type. Very well carved. The crack is a pitty.

http://blade.japet.com/KRISS/K-Ukiran/U-madura.htm

The wrangka is very nice carved as well. The pendok has the typical maduran european influence like the lower piece of the scabbard of a sabre.
Maybe a newer keris but in my opinion a very nice one.
Wouldn´t think about changing the ukiran.

[Marcokeris]

I agree with Henk about not change ukiran. IMO the hit is right with sarong pattern and with pendok too.
.....Another similar hit...

[asomotif]

You may want to change the hilt. I prefer the hilt to be something like below.

You may what...

You may want to change your head, but your mom will say it was made just to fit with the rest of your body.

really, I wish this quaility keris came along on this side of the pond.