Mystery and very interesting keris hilt

David · 4th April 2011, 11:32 PM

Frankly Detlef, i don't get the impression that this is all that old. The carved out areas look far to light and fresh for there to be any reasonable amount of age here. You see a lot of contemporary hilts on ePrey these days that are obviously modern designs that while sometimes based in tradition forms are really more of a free expression of the artist/carver. I'm not convinced that trying to nail this hilt down to a particular origin is likely to lead us to any conclusive answers.

A. G. Maisey · 5th April 2011, 12:03 AM

Based upon what I can see in the photos, I would accept without question that this hilt does have good age.

At the moment I am unable to offer a suggestion of origin.

David · 5th April 2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Based upon what I can see in the photos, I would accept without question that this hilt does have good age.

At the moment I am unable to offer a suggestion of origin.

Really Alan? The carved out areas look way to light and fresh cut to my eyes.

David · 5th April 2011, 02:22 AM

Could this be an older hilt that for some reason was more recently "enhanced" with carvings?

Rick · 5th April 2011, 03:02 AM

Remnants of Lime rubbing ??

PenangsangII · 5th April 2011, 04:29 AM

I would opine the hilt came from Selayar island or Buton.... but my last dollar is to Selayar provenance.

Selayar is known to its hybrid ukiran/hulu/pangulu - across between Celebes and Java...bird hulu with nunggak semi style.....

Sajen · 5th April 2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenangsangII

I would opine the hilt came from Selayar island or Buton.... but my last dollar is to Selayar provenance.

Selayar is known to its hybrid ukiran/hulu/pangulu - across between Celebes and Java...bird hulu with nunggak semi style.....

Hello Penangsang,

very interesting hint! Do you can show any examples?

Regards,

Detlef

kai · 5th April 2011, 09:30 AM

Quote:

I would opine the hilt came from Selayar island or Buton....

Interesting suggestion - could you please post any pics of resembling hilts? TIA!

I'm with Alan that the hilt does have some age - maybe not antique but around WW2 or possibly first half of 20th c. sounds good to me.

The carving is pretty rough. I guess this is a village/DIY example which will be very tough to place unless we find a provenanced example with similar features: especially the rounded/curved gestalt seems noteworthy. Then again, this might just have been a shortcut...

Regards,
Kai

Sajen · 5th April 2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Remnants of Lime rubbing ??

Hi Rick,

no lime rubbing. The carved out areas look so white from flash light.

Regards,

Detlef

Sajen · 5th April 2011, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Frankly Detlef, i don't get the impression that this is all that old. The carved out areas look far to light and fresh for there to be any reasonable amount of age here. You see a lot of contemporary hilts on ePrey these days that are obviously modern designs that while sometimes based in tradition forms are really more of a free expression of the artist/carver. I'm not convinced that trying to nail this hilt down to a particular origin is likely to lead us to any conclusive answers.

Hello David,

I've got this hilt 1994 in Indonesia with a thick coat of dirt patination and the carvings wasn't visible. When you are able to hold this hilt in your hands you would agree that it is an old hilt. I don't know if it is an antique hilt but for sure with a good age.

Regards,

Detlef

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4th April 2011, 11:32 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,240	Frankly Detlef, i don't get the impression that this is all that old. The carved out areas look far to light and fresh for there to be any reasonable amount of age here. You see a lot of contemporary hilts on ePrey these days that are obviously modern designs that while sometimes based in tradition forms are really more of a free expression of the artist/carver. I'm not convinced that trying to nail this hilt down to a particular origin is likely to lead us to any conclusive answers.

5th April 2011, 12:03 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,064	Based upon what I can see in the photos, I would accept without question that this hilt does have good age. At the moment I am unable to offer a suggestion of origin.

5th April 2011, 02:22 AM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,240	Could this be an older hilt that for some reason was more recently "enhanced" with carvings?

5th April 2011, 03:02 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,366	Remnants of Lime rubbing ??

5th April 2011, 04:29 AM	#6
PenangsangII Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 401	I would opine the hilt came from Selayar island or Buton.... but my last dollar is to Selayar provenance. Selayar is known to its hybrid ukiran/hulu/pangulu - across between Celebes and Java...bird hulu with nunggak semi style.....