Bali Keris

Battara · 20th October 2005, 06:24 AM

Perhaps I should have been a little more specific. I was refering to the scabbard and the silver sheath. But on the subject, Nechesh you don't think they are doing work like this on Bali anymore? I know that it would be more expensive, and thus the stuff for the tourist market is not even truly laminated.

nechesh · 21st October 2005, 12:38 AM

Ah yes Jose, i would definitely agree that the sheath is contemporary. In fact we know it is since Mickey had it made to order.

To answer your question, i am fairly sure that keris of this quality have not been made On the island of Bali for some time. I'm not quite sure where all these higher end contemporary Bali-style keris that keep popping up on eBay are being made. Either Jawa or Madura i would imagine. But i don't believe that there has been much high end keris production on Bali since the before WWII. I would be interested in any evidence to the contrary.

Battara · 21st October 2005, 10:55 AM

Well, what I was talking about it the style of the silverwork being contemporary, not the actual dating. I have seen replacement work done in older styles. You don't think that the stuff coming out as Balinese is actually from Bali recently?

nechesh · 21st October 2005, 05:13 PM

Again i just need to clarify. Does your question refer to the blade or the dress? As for high quality keris blades, no, i don't believe the contemporary "Balinese" ones are actually being made on Bali. As for the contemporary "Balimese" sheaths like this one, i am not sure. I do know that the guy Mick sent this blade to for fitting does not live on Bali. I believe he is on Jawa. Now as far as i know he is not the mranggi who did this work. He may have then sent it over to Bali to be fitted but i wouldn't be surprised if he had some more local craftsmen available to him. Of course Bali is right next door, but i think the guy might live in Jakarta, which is clear across the other side of Jawa. With islands that lie so close and the obvious amount of free travel that must occur, especially in modern times when Indonesia is one multi-island nation, i'm not so sure it matters much. I would imagine you might find native Javanese living on Bali and visa versa. Anyway you slice it though, the new sheath made for Mick"s beautiful Balinese keris seems very appropriate regardless of where it was actually made an i wouldn't hesitate to call it "Balinese".

20th October 2005, 06:24 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Perhaps I should have been a little more specific. I was refering to the scabbard and the silver sheath. But on the subject, Nechesh you don't think they are doing work like this on Bali anymore? I know that it would be more expensive, and thus the stuff for the tourist market is not even truly laminated.

21st October 2005, 12:38 AM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Ah yes Jose, i would definitely agree that the sheath is contemporary. In fact we know it is since Mickey had it made to order. To answer your question, i am fairly sure that keris of this quality have not been made On the island of Bali for some time. I'm not quite sure where all these higher end contemporary Bali-style keris that keep popping up on eBay are being made. Either Jawa or Madura i would imagine. But i don't believe that there has been much high end keris production on Bali since the before WWII. I would be interested in any evidence to the contrary.

21st October 2005, 10:55 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Well, what I was talking about it the style of the silverwork being contemporary, not the actual dating. I have seen replacement work done in older styles. You don't think that the stuff coming out as Balinese is actually from Bali recently?

21st October 2005, 05:13 PM	#4
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Again i just need to clarify. Does your question refer to the blade or the dress? As for high quality keris blades, no, i don't believe the contemporary "Balinese" ones are actually being made on Bali. As for the contemporary "Balimese" sheaths like this one, i am not sure. I do know that the guy Mick sent this blade to for fitting does not live on Bali. I believe he is on Jawa. Now as far as i know he is not the mranggi who did this work. He may have then sent it over to Bali to be fitted but i wouldn't be surprised if he had some more local craftsmen available to him. Of course Bali is right next door, but i think the guy might live in Jakarta, which is clear across the other side of Jawa. With islands that lie so close and the obvious amount of free travel that must occur, especially in modern times when Indonesia is one multi-island nation, i'm not so sure it matters much. I would imagine you might find native Javanese living on Bali and visa versa. Anyway you slice it though, the new sheath made for Mick"s beautiful Balinese keris seems very appropriate regardless of where it was actually made an i wouldn't hesitate to call it "Balinese".