What is the relationship between a keris and its hilt in the ancient culture?

A. G. Maisey · 3rd January 2011, 02:18 AM

Neo, the best representations of old keris dress that I know of are in the relief carvings at Panataran and Sukuh.

I think that if you search the photos of these reliefs on my site, you will probably find the pics.

The Panataran one is the carving of a keris fight and you can clearly see a scabbard of Bugis style in the waist band.

The Sukuh pic shows a ladrangan of approximately East Javanese style, again in a waist band.

However --- don't get too carried away with what you might have been told about the age of what you have. A lot of people in the keris world have very active imaginations.

Apart from what I have already said about hilts, it would be of use for anybody who wishes to understand the place of weapon hilts in SE Asian cultures, not only Jawa/Bali, to read widely on some of the less developed cultures in the region.Its all out there, but it does require a bit more than a quick google to get the answers.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

3rd January 2011, 02:18 AM	#17
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Neo, the best representations of old keris dress that I know of are in the relief carvings at Panataran and Sukuh. I think that if you search the photos of these reliefs on my site, you will probably find the pics. The Panataran one is the carving of a keris fight and you can clearly see a scabbard of Bugis style in the waist band. The Sukuh pic shows a ladrangan of approximately East Javanese style, again in a waist band. However --- don't get too carried away with what you might have been told about the age of what you have. A lot of people in the keris world have very active imaginations. Apart from what I have already said about hilts, it would be of use for anybody who wishes to understand the place of weapon hilts in SE Asian cultures, not only Jawa/Bali, to read widely on some of the less developed cultures in the region.Its all out there, but it does require a bit more than a quick google to get the answers.