Balinese Keris Holders

ivoke · 25th October 2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Yes, agree most probable Twalen! Here pictures from my old Twalen figure - no keris holder but a nice old carving.

Regards,

Detlef

Think its Petruk, not Twalen, but i can be wrong.

Sajen · 25th October 2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivoke

Think its Petruk, not Twalen, but i can be wrong.

Hello Ivoke,

why you think like this? Can you explain? Thank you in advance,

Detlef

ivoke · 25th October 2011, 09:54 PM

Well, from what i know,

basicly:

Twalen is black,
his sarong is black and white,
Petruk has green in his colorscheme and facial hair.
but he normally also has a bigger nose,so it could also be Delem,
my opinion its not Twalen or Merdah.

Gio's Hanuman has more features that could make it Twalen.

but this is my personal opinion, i could be wrong.
And i base myself on the Bali-Singaraja versions.

asomotif · 26th October 2011, 12:19 AM

Nice thread.

Interesting info about the panakawan brothers.
This one is green, but no facial hair.

ivoke · 7th November 2011, 11:04 AM

i had my son ask I Agung Pandi (the local dalang) about the differences and this was his view:

* tualen = black, body fat, bald head, sarong black or white. a little nose, big mouth, good heart, fierce look, magic.

* merdah = black, body fat, bald head, sarong black or white. a big nose, big mouth, good heart, no fierce look, magic.

* delem = red skin color, upright hair (bun), sarong black and white , body fat, big nose, big mouth

* Petruk / sangut = green skin, lean body, sharp nose,sharp facial features, big mouth.

(singaraja region)

A. G. Maisey · 8th November 2011, 02:45 AM

This post is not intended to contradict ivoke, it is intended to offer an alternate point of view by somebody who is perhaps as qualified to hold a legitimate opinion as ivoke's informant.

My informant is not a dalang, but an artist, and a senior member of a banjar in the Ubud area.

Twalen is usually coloured black, his expression can change according to the situation, it is not necessarily fierce, but can be so.

Mwerdah is young, and is usually coloured red --- black is not fitting for a young character who is often unsure of himself --- the expression is most usually one of enquiry.

Here are some images of Twalen and Mwerdah keris holders that I have, they are old ones.

There are also some images of blawongs with wayang characters shown.

I seem to recall that Twalen is the Balinese equivalent of Semar, I don't know who Mwerdah is in Javanese wayang. Does anybody know for sure the Javanese equivalents of these characters?

ivoke · 8th November 2011, 08:03 AM

In Javanese wayang, the punakawan characters consist of Semar, Gareng, Bagong, and Petruk. In Balinese wayang in the other hand, the character consist of Twalen and Merdah (the maids of Pandawa) and Delem and Sangut (the maids of Kurawa).

-Semar is the care-giver of Pandawa. His name is also Hyang Ismaya. Even though his appearance is so ugly, he has a supernatural ability that is greater than the gods'.

-Gareng is one of Semar's sons which means he is revered. Nalagareng cannot speak well; furthermore, whatever he says can be totally wrong. However, he is a very funny and hilarious man. He has been a king of Paranggumiwang and has a name Pandubergola. He was elected to be a king in the name of Dewi Sumbadra. He is so powerful and can only be defeated by Petruk.

-Bagong means shadow of Semar. When Semar was sent to the earth, the gods stated that his shadow became his friend. Suddenly, his shadow was transformed to be Bagong. Bagong has unique personality: he is assertive and like to pretend to be stupid. He is also so funny.

-Petruk is Semar's son with the sweet face and smile. He is a smart speaker and a funny man. He likes to ridicule atrocity with his comedy. Petruk has been a king at the state of Ngrancang Kencana and is named Helgeduelbek. In one story, he took the Kalimasada amulet. Nobody can defeat him except Gareng.

About the "fierce" look of twalen, in the region of the old capital -Singaraja- Twalen is also used by ceremonies like filing of the teeth, to transfer the offerings to the gods. In Jawa and the ubud-denpasar region this function of messenger between the worlds is maybe less present. Twalen in singaraja is not considered a clown. Delem is red in our neck of the sawa's, since he's Twalens "evil" twin. Merdah is Black/brownish.

About the different styles, Balinese people are considered creative....to use an understatement...rules are there to be bent.
There are regional differences, and commercial differences.
My wife is still amazed they sell all that "old stuff" here.....in Tukad Mungga we just trow it away when its old or broken.

Sorry for my english.

ivoke · 8th November 2011, 08:44 AM

to show the differences between Semar and twalen (hence Jawa and Bali wayang gulit)

Semar

Twalen....note the movable jaw, this means he can speak for himself.

25th October 2011, 09:54 PM	#3
ivoke Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 20	Well, from what i know, basicly: Twalen is black, his sarong is black and white, Petruk has green in his colorscheme and facial hair. but he normally also has a bigger nose,so it could also be Delem, my opinion its not Twalen or Merdah. Gio's Hanuman has more features that could make it Twalen. but this is my personal opinion, i could be wrong. And i base myself on the Bali-Singaraja versions. Last edited by ivoke; 25th October 2011 at 10:49 PM.

26th October 2011, 12:19 AM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Nice thread. Interesting info about the panakawan brothers. This one is green, but no facial hair. Attached Images

8th November 2011, 02:45 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	This post is not intended to contradict ivoke, it is intended to offer an alternate point of view by somebody who is perhaps as qualified to hold a legitimate opinion as ivoke's informant. My informant is not a dalang, but an artist, and a senior member of a banjar in the Ubud area. Twalen is usually coloured black, his expression can change according to the situation, it is not necessarily fierce, but can be so. Mwerdah is young, and is usually coloured red --- black is not fitting for a young character who is often unsure of himself --- the expression is most usually one of enquiry. Here are some images of Twalen and Mwerdah keris holders that I have, they are old ones. There are also some images of blawongs with wayang characters shown. I seem to recall that Twalen is the Balinese equivalent of Semar, I don't know who Mwerdah is in Javanese wayang. Does anybody know for sure the Javanese equivalents of these characters? Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 8th November 2011 at 01:58 PM. Reason: photos edited at poster's request .

8th November 2011, 08:44 AM	#8
ivoke Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 20	to show the differences between Semar and twalen (hence Jawa and Bali wayang gulit) Semar Twalen....note the movable jaw, this means he can speak for himself. Attached Images

7th November 2011, 11:04 AM	#5
ivoke Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 20	i had my son ask I Agung Pandi (the local dalang) about the differences and this was his view: * tualen = black, body fat, bald head, sarong black or white. a little nose, big mouth, good heart, fierce look, magic. * merdah = black, body fat, bald head, sarong black or white. a big nose, big mouth, good heart, no fierce look, magic. * delem = red skin color, upright hair (bun), sarong black and white , body fat, big nose, big mouth * Petruk / sangut = green skin, lean body, sharp nose,sharp facial features, big mouth. (singaraja region)

8th November 2011, 08:03 AM	#7
ivoke Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 20	In Javanese wayang, the punakawan characters consist of Semar, Gareng, Bagong, and Petruk. In Balinese wayang in the other hand, the character consist of Twalen and Merdah (the maids of Pandawa) and Delem and Sangut (the maids of Kurawa). -Semar is the care-giver of Pandawa. His name is also Hyang Ismaya. Even though his appearance is so ugly, he has a supernatural ability that is greater than the gods'. -Gareng is one of Semar's sons which means he is revered. Nalagareng cannot speak well; furthermore, whatever he says can be totally wrong. However, he is a very funny and hilarious man. He has been a king of Paranggumiwang and has a name Pandubergola. He was elected to be a king in the name of Dewi Sumbadra. He is so powerful and can only be defeated by Petruk. -Bagong means shadow of Semar. When Semar was sent to the earth, the gods stated that his shadow became his friend. Suddenly, his shadow was transformed to be Bagong. Bagong has unique personality: he is assertive and like to pretend to be stupid. He is also so funny. -Petruk is Semar's son with the sweet face and smile. He is a smart speaker and a funny man. He likes to ridicule atrocity with his comedy. Petruk has been a king at the state of Ngrancang Kencana and is named Helgeduelbek. In one story, he took the Kalimasada amulet. Nobody can defeat him except Gareng. About the "fierce" look of twalen, in the region of the old capital -Singaraja- Twalen is also used by ceremonies like filing of the teeth, to transfer the offerings to the gods. In Jawa and the ubud-denpasar region this function of messenger between the worlds is maybe less present. Twalen in singaraja is not considered a clown. Delem is red in our neck of the sawa's, since he's Twalens "evil" twin. Merdah is Black/brownish. About the different styles, Balinese people are considered creative....to use an understatement...rules are there to be bent. There are regional differences, and commercial differences. My wife is still amazed they sell all that "old stuff" here.....in Tukad Mungga we just trow it away when its old or broken. Sorry for my english.