Another eBay Keris

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by dbhmgb

I, too, noticed the difference in the bottom stem and guessed that it had been replaced at one time.

I think Jean speak about the keris he have shown.

[dbhmgb]

Originally Posted by Sajen

I think Jean speak about the keris he have shown.

Oh, okay, I see - but the same is true of the one I have...

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by dbhmgb

Oh, okay, I see - but the same is true of the one I have...

Yes, of course it is a different wood like most of the time but I don't think that it is a replacement.

Regards,

Detlef

[Gustav]

This is how the stem of your sheath most probably looked like, Dan. I also don't think it is a replacement.

[dbhmgb]

Detlef & Gustav - Thank you! I get it now - not replaced.

Thank you, Gustav, for the picture - that is very helpful! I just inspected my sheath and it does appear that it may have been wrapped much like the one in the picture.

[Rick]

Well done .
Hard to get a nice piece on ebay these days .

Forty bucks !

[dbhmgb]

Thanks Rick! Believe me, no one is as surprised as I am. Usually, I only win the "Buy It Now" auctions on eBay.

[Jean]

Originally Posted by Gustav

This is how the stem of your sheath most probably looked like, Dan. I also don't think it is a replacement.

Hi Gustav,
Can you show us the blade please?
You say that "the sheath form is South/ toward Central Sumatran", which area do you mean exactly?
Regards

[Gustav]

Jean, I can't show the blade, becouse it isn't mine. If I remember correctly, I have been told it is an untypical Chenok blade from Northern Malay regions (Singora). As I said before, this sheath form is to be found also there, sometimes with coteng hilts, see Dave Henkel's site: http://kerisarchipelago.150m.com/webpage/Tajong2.htm

Please note, the pendokok in the picture from my last post is also very similar, if not directly the same type.

As I stated in my first post, there probably are traces of rattan binding still visible on the stem, which Dan confirmed.

That's why I posted this picture as a sample how Dan's sheath most probably looked like.

Regarding the exact area, I already wrote: "Most probably Minangkabau? Not much is really known about South/Central Sumatran forms, and it seems it will for ever stay so." I don't have heard about a serious research regarding keris in these regions. As soon as we are moving out from Palembang, we don't have nothing really supported - regarding Lampung, regarding Palembang towards Pegunungan Barisan, regarding Bengkulu, regarding Indrapura, regarding Palembang towards Jambi.

Most of what we can recognize in this part of Suamtra is a changing level of Palembang influence (which is again influenced by West Java or and later Mataram) or direct West Java influence regarding Sumatran South-West coast; - interacting with Bugis influence. Whe can perhaps guess about the region using this changing level. This is better then nothing, yet not really serious.

Regarding similar sheath (and blade) style on Peninsula: keris do travel, as do the people. We know there are serious old Minangkabau populations on Peninsula, we know that Minangkabau keris was much appreciated on Peninsula, and we know about ties between Minangkabau and Peninsular royal houses. And that's unfortunately almost all.

[Jean]

Thank you Gustav, personally I don't recognize the kris from Dan as Minang (blade & wrongko) but I have no better alternative to propose . We know that many Sumatran krisses are mixed pieces but this one seems original.
I visited West Sumatra (Padang and Bukittinggi) some years ago and saw a number of krisses there but do not remember a similar one. My only observation is that according to Jensen this style of wrongko is derived from the old Makassar/ Goa krisses so it should logically be found in Bugis influenced areas of Sumatra or Malaysia, i.e. costal areas.
The input from our Singapore members would be welcome.
Regards

[Gustav]

Originally Posted by Jean

Thank you Gustav, personally I don't recognize the kris from Dan as Minang (blade & wrongko)

Jean, I never said this blade is Minang. I said: "Blade is a fairly typical South Sumatran one, perhaps one still can see strong West Java influences here. I wouldn't call this blade Bugis."

Originally Posted by Jean

My only observation is that according to Jensen this style of wrongko is derived from the old Makassar/ Goa krisses so it should logically be found in Bugis influenced areas of Sumatra or Malaysia, i.e. costal areas.

Yes, and one of the variants, according to Jensen, can be found on Minangkabau keris. Of course, one should notice, Jensens attributions are sometimes pretty questionable. According to Jensen, we also should believe, Minangkabau produced only small sized Bahari and 3 Luk blades.