old ivory hilt for share

Ganja Iras · 17th January 2013, 03:14 AM

dear all ,

i presenting my ivory hilt for comment in this forum ...
really hope will get some more info about the figure of this hilt
regards,

ganja iras

David · 17th January 2013, 03:33 PM

Very interesting hilt Ganja Iras. I haven't seen one like it before and i'm not sure i can add much information. Of course the variation to be found in figural hilts seems to be endless, though women seem to be a much rarer subject for keris hilts. I have seen the so-called faceless "durga" hilts and the wadon hilts, but this is not of that style or variety. My first impression is that the subject and pose seems very Western to me. It makes me wonder if the carver was working from some bit of European art to base this figure on. The modesty of this pose, with all "private" parts covered, seems unusual for this culture.

Sajen · 17th January 2013, 07:05 PM

Very nice Bali/Lombok hilt but I am not sure if it is indeed very old or antique, the hilt seems too erotic imho.

Regards,

Detlef

asomotif · 17th January 2013, 11:19 PM

I like the hilt-cup. nice work.

But the hilt... not my cup of tea.
no expression in the face, strange pose and arms seem out of proportion.
I cannot imagine this being old or indiginous.

David · 18th January 2013, 06:55 AM

She reminds me a little of the mermaid from the Copenhagen harbor with just a tad more modesty.

T. Koch · 18th January 2013, 06:56 PM

I also must confess that the figure itself doesn't really do anything for me. That being said, I do very much like the color as well as the patina of the ivory - particularly on the head.

The overall shape of the hilt, as well as the laminations visible on the sides, makes me think it's carved from some kind of whale tooth.

Thanks very much for sharing!

- Thor

Bjorn · 17th January 2013, 07:05 PM

Indeed very interesting. I agree with David that as the piece immediately struck me as European in look. I believe it was during the early 1900s that more and more European artists moved to Bali; perhaps this piece is a product of that influx? Or possibly it is a later piece geared towards tourists - but I personally don't get that impression from this piece.

17th January 2013, 03:14 AM	#1
Ganja Iras Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 57	old ivory hilt for share dear all , i presenting my ivory hilt for comment in this forum ... really hope will get some more info about the figure of this hilt regards, ganja iras Attached Images

17th January 2013, 03:33 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,127	Very interesting hilt Ganja Iras. I haven't seen one like it before and i'm not sure i can add much information. Of course the variation to be found in figural hilts seems to be endless, though women seem to be a much rarer subject for keris hilts. I have seen the so-called faceless "durga" hilts and the wadon hilts, but this is not of that style or variety. My first impression is that the subject and pose seems very Western to me. It makes me wonder if the carver was working from some bit of European art to base this figure on. The modesty of this pose, with all "private" parts covered, seems unusual for this culture. Last edited by David; 18th January 2013 at 02:31 PM. Reason: forgot a word...

18th January 2013, 06:55 AM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,127	She reminds me a little of the mermaid from the Copenhagen harbor with just a tad more modesty. Attached Images

17th January 2013, 07:05 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,788	Very nice Bali/Lombok hilt but I am not sure if it is indeed very old or antique, the hilt seems too erotic imho. Regards, Detlef

17th January 2013, 11:19 PM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	I like the hilt-cup. nice work. But the hilt... not my cup of tea. no expression in the face, strange pose and arms seem out of proportion. I cannot imagine this being old or indiginous.

18th January 2013, 06:56 PM	#6
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	I also must confess that the figure itself doesn't really do anything for me. That being said, I do very much like the color as well as the patina of the ivory - particularly on the head. The overall shape of the hilt, as well as the laminations visible on the sides, makes me think it's carved from some kind of whale tooth. Thanks very much for sharing! - Thor

17th January 2013, 07:05 PM	#7
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	Indeed very interesting. I agree with David that as the piece immediately struck me as European in look. I believe it was during the early 1900s that more and more European artists moved to Bali; perhaps this piece is a product of that influx? Or possibly it is a later piece geared towards tourists - but I personally don't get that impression from this piece.