A bronze Keris hilt - help needed to identify figure etc.

A. G. Maisey · 8th June 2019, 09:59 PM

Maybe there are fangs there Jean, I just cannot see the detail of this hilt well enough on my screen to know with certainty.

kai · 8th June 2019, 10:31 PM

Tim asked me to extend thanks to all who responded!

He seems to have problems with logging in and I hope he'll be back soon.

I'm adding a few more pics he send me for posting; Tim will try to take some more.

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 9th June 2019, 12:44 AM

I'm getting the impression from the images that Kai has posted that there is a Tumpal Throne involved here.

kai · 9th June 2019, 08:54 AM

Yes, Rick, some of the tumpal motifs have been preserved in this design.

There also seems to be a garuda mungkur at the back of the head.

I'm fairly sure there are fangs - we need sharper pics for verification though.

There seem to be 2 elephants depicted at the front.

The hilt sure does seem to have some age despite metal castings being notoriously difficult to appraise. However, I don't see any of the common motifs/details of very early carved hilts and suspect this piece is later work.

Tim, any resin (or wood) inside the hilt?

Regards,
Kai

Marcokeris · 9th June 2019, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Yes, Rick, some of the tumpal motifs have been preserved in this design.

There also seems to be a garuda mungkur at the back of the head.

I'm fairly sure there are fangs - we need sharper pics for verification though.

There seem to be 2 elephants depicted at the front.

The hilt sure does seem to have some age despite metal castings being notoriously difficult to appraise. However, I don't see any of the common motifs/details of very early carved hilts and suspect this piece is later work.

Tim, any resin (or wood) inside the hilt?

Regards,
Kai

I agree..... Interesting handle and I think it could be old

Jean · 9th June 2019, 07:18 PM

I notice that the pesi hole is very wide, any missing materials inside?
Regards

Bjorn · 18th July 2019, 06:11 AM

It seems the question of the mudra was never resolved.
From the photos - and perhaps on item-in-hand as well - it's difficult to see the exact positioning of the fingers.
As fas as I can tell, the middle and ring fingers are extended.
The thumb is visible, though I can't see what the index finger is doing.
And the pinkie seems a little strange to me. It gives the appearance of being bent (due to the thickening of the material), but going by length that doesn't make sense.

Of course it could be that the casting was imperfect. Perhaps only 4 fingers were cast. Perhaps the design of the mudra was not carefully considered by the maker.

8th June 2019, 10:31 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Tim asked me to extend thanks to all who responded! He seems to have problems with logging in and I hope he'll be back soon. I'm adding a few more pics he send me for posting; Tim will try to take some more. Regards, Kai Attached Images

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8th June 2019, 09:59 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	Maybe there are fangs there Jean, I just cannot see the detail of this hilt well enough on my screen to know with certainty.

9th June 2019, 12:44 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	I'm getting the impression from the images that Kai has posted that there is a Tumpal Throne involved here.

9th June 2019, 08:54 AM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Yes, Rick, some of the tumpal motifs have been preserved in this design. There also seems to be a garuda mungkur at the back of the head. I'm fairly sure there are fangs - we need sharper pics for verification though. There seem to be 2 elephants depicted at the front. The hilt sure does seem to have some age despite metal castings being notoriously difficult to appraise. However, I don't see any of the common motifs/details of very early carved hilts and suspect this piece is later work. Tim, any resin (or wood) inside the hilt? Regards, Kai

9th June 2019, 07:18 PM	#6
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	I notice that the pesi hole is very wide, any missing materials inside? Regards

18th July 2019, 06:11 AM	#7
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	It seems the question of the mudra was never resolved. From the photos - and perhaps on item-in-hand as well - it's difficult to see the exact positioning of the fingers. As fas as I can tell, the middle and ring fingers are extended. The thumb is visible, though I can't see what the index finger is doing. And the pinkie seems a little strange to me. It gives the appearance of being bent (due to the thickening of the material), but going by length that doesn't make sense. Of course it could be that the casting was imperfect. Perhaps only 4 fingers were cast. Perhaps the design of the mudra was not carefully considered by the maker.