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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 88
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Hi everyone,
I've been lurking for a while, and I decided it was finally time to ask Lee if I could participate on this board to share information with (and learn from) the great people here. I purchased this Batak keris a few months ago. Apparently, it was brought back from the Lake Toba area in the '70s. The blade is supposedly from the 17th century, although I don't know if I believe that. What do you guys think? Cheers |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 88
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A couple more pics...
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,242
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Hello Harimauhk,
Welcome to the forum. First thing, this thread is most appropriate in the Keris Warung Kopi, the keris forum. Moderators will quickly move it I imagine. Second thing is...sorry, you got snookered. This is a tourist keris-like object. The same thing happened with my very first "keris". A "lake Toba" example but with "gold" kinata. I was disgusted when I received it. ![]() Yours has solder applied to the surface to imitate pamor. Tough lesson but that's how it goes. Third thing...don't let this discourage you ![]() Regards, Emanuel |
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#4 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,282
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Another guilty party here too !
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#5 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,082
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Welcome to the forum Harimauhk. I am afraid that Emmanuel is exactly right. This is a 20th century tourist object and it would be unfair to really call it a keris. I don't mean to be harsh, but it's just the facts. I think most of us have at some point in our collecting careers been taken in a similar matter. I hope it won't turn you off to collecting keris. They are indeed beautiful, wonderful and fascinating things. If you stick around this forum you will no doubt learn much from our large and knowledgeable membership and avoid such a mistake in the future.
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#6 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,082
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#7 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,282
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True David , but the rest is quite similar .
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 88
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Thanks guys! I actually had no idea it was a tourist item. I have a few more keris--hopefully I have at least one good one
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#9 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,248
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2024
Location: China
Posts: 40
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Hi Rick,
I have a very similar keris like yours. I got it from an auction. It's said to be more than 100 years old! |
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#11 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,282
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Hello Hugh and welcome to the forums.
![]() You have a real keris blade there, but I don't think you would see a person of the culture wearing this ensemble in public. ![]() As for 100 years that would be doubtful for the dress although I haven't seen many of this dress style in recent years. As far as the attribution you have been given on this piece goes; we have a saying here; "buy the keris not the story". We have a very large archive of keris related posts and there is a lot to be learned from doing a search by keyword there, and don't be shy about asking questions. ![]() |
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 447
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Hugh, these hilts and sarongs are often made to entice non Indonesians.
Mostly sold outside Bali as being Balinese but aside from a general sarong shape resembling the Balinese ones they feature almost invariably blades of East Javanese origin. The blade may even be old but hardly ever of any quality. I have seen them also in the form of man and woman hilts ( sold together) and the seller was telling me that he had got them on Bali and that they were wedding krises. They are very crudely made en the embossing is very superficial and undefiled. The shape is almost cylindrical. There are currently several examples on Etsy but we are not permitted to show krises that are in an active sale or auction. |
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