Balinese Keris Help

Jacob · 5th March 2005, 05:04 PM

Hi, Could anyone help me determine age /authenticity of this keris?
Thanks.

nechesh · 5th March 2005, 06:34 PM

Hi Jacob, welcome to the forum. Nice Bali keris. Authentic? Certainly. Looks to me to be mid -late 19thC, but it could be a bit older. Nice silver diety hilt. Most of the stones look real on there, including low-grade ruby and sapphire, and some other semi-precious stones. The mendak (hilt ring) looks like a newer addition and the "stones" there may be glass. The metal here is probably brass.The metal sheath cover appears to also be silver and is nicely repoussed. Nice blade as well. It could use a etch and restaining to raise the pamor pattern. All in all pretty nice. I certainly wouldn't mind owning it.

Jacob · 5th March 2005, 07:57 PM

Thanks, Nechesh. This is the nicest one I have. Here is another one. I'm a little suspicious about this one, as the blade looks too new and perfect.

nechesh · 6th March 2005, 12:52 AM

Jacob, i would say that this second one is newer than the first, but it is not a new blade. Could be early 20thC up until the 1940s, but i doubt any newer than that. This quality of keris doesn't really appear in post WWII Bali. Could you show a close-up of the gandik area (where the carved elephant head is)? The hilt on this one is also nice, but not like the first. I suspect this one may be silver plated brass as opposed to solid silver.

Jacob · 6th March 2005, 01:47 AM

The hilt did not come with the keis. It had a relly crude wood one.

Battara · 6th March 2005, 12:18 PM

I would say with David that silver plated brass is involved. Both keris hilts look silver plated brass or white brass to me and newer. Nice work. The sheath of the first might very well be silver.

nechesh · 6th March 2005, 08:19 PM

Jacob, check your private message box. You've got mail.

Jacob · 7th March 2005, 12:09 AM

I wonder how old is my avatar.

nechesh · 7th March 2005, 12:50 AM

I don't think i would feel qualified to put an exact date on it. It certain shows age and has a nice patina, especially on the belly.

It is a very nice carving and not a figure i can recall seeing exactly as such before. I love the figure's right hand position. Is the mendak that is with it gold w/rubies or is it just glass? It's always hard to tell such things w/ internet pictures. If they are rubies i would say they are fairly high end ones. Nice hilt regardless.

5th March 2005, 05:04 PM	#1
Jacob Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14	Balinese Keris Help Hi, Could anyone help me determine age /authenticity of this keris? Thanks. Attached Images

5th March 2005, 07:57 PM	#3
Jacob Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14	Thanks, Nechesh. This is the nicest one I have. Here is another one. I'm a little suspicious about this one, as the blade looks too new and perfect. Attached Images

6th March 2005, 01:47 AM	#5
Jacob Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14	The hilt did not come with the keis. It had a relly crude wood one. Attached Images

7th March 2005, 12:09 AM	#8
Jacob Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 14	I wonder how old is my avatar. Attached Images

7th March 2005, 12:50 AM	#9
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	I don't think i would feel qualified to put an exact date on it. It certain shows age and has a nice patina, especially on the belly. It is a very nice carving and not a figure i can recall seeing exactly as such before. I love the figure's right hand position. Is the mendak that is with it gold w/rubies or is it just glass? It's always hard to tell such things w/ internet pictures. If they are rubies i would say they are fairly high end ones. Nice hilt regardless. Last edited by nechesh; 7th March 2005 at 02:06 AM.

5th March 2005, 06:34 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hi Jacob, welcome to the forum. Nice Bali keris. Authentic? Certainly. Looks to me to be mid -late 19thC, but it could be a bit older. Nice silver diety hilt. Most of the stones look real on there, including low-grade ruby and sapphire, and some other semi-precious stones. The mendak (hilt ring) looks like a newer addition and the "stones" there may be glass. The metal here is probably brass.The metal sheath cover appears to also be silver and is nicely repoussed. Nice blade as well. It could use a etch and restaining to raise the pamor pattern. All in all pretty nice. I certainly wouldn't mind owning it.

6th March 2005, 12:52 AM	#4
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Jacob, i would say that this second one is newer than the first, but it is not a new blade. Could be early 20thC up until the 1940s, but i doubt any newer than that. This quality of keris doesn't really appear in post WWII Bali. Could you show a close-up of the gandik area (where the carved elephant head is)? The hilt on this one is also nice, but not like the first. I suspect this one may be silver plated brass as opposed to solid silver.

6th March 2005, 12:18 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,269	I would say with David that silver plated brass is involved. Both keris hilts look silver plated brass or white brass to me and newer. Nice work. The sheath of the first might very well be silver.

6th March 2005, 08:19 PM	#7
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Jacob, check your private message box. You've got mail.