Mystery and very interesting keris hilt

A. G. Maisey · 5th April 2011, 01:03 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, 01:08 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, 03:22 AM

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

Rick · 5th April 2011, 04:02 AM

Remnants of Lime rubbing ??

PenangsangII · 5th April 2011, 05:29 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, 10:24 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, 10:30 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

A. G. Maisey · 5th April 2011, 10:58 AM

David, I'm reading that light area as greyish wood caused by age and dirt. I feel that if this was brushed lightly and repeatedly with baby oil, with good hot-hand rubbings in between you'd have something that looked a lot different.

The carving is fairly crude, I'd guess somebody's work for himself.

As to age, I would not place it in the post WWII period. Wood that has not been subjected to sunlight can be very, very deceptive.

Sajen · 5th April 2011, 10:22 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

5th April 2011, 01:03 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	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, 03:22 AM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,250	Could this be an older hilt that for some reason was more recently "enhanced" with carvings?

5th April 2011, 04:02 AM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Remnants of Lime rubbing ??

5th April 2011, 05:29 AM	#5
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.....

5th April 2011, 10:58 AM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	David, I'm reading that light area as greyish wood caused by age and dirt. I feel that if this was brushed lightly and repeatedly with baby oil, with good hot-hand rubbings in between you'd have something that looked a lot different. The carving is fairly crude, I'd guess somebody's work for himself. As to age, I would not place it in the post WWII period. Wood that has not been subjected to sunlight can be very, very deceptive.