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#1 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
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Things seem a bit slow around here so perhaps i can spark a little conversation with another mystery. Again, at least a mystery to me.
![]() Blade is just under 10 inches (25 cm.) with a very narrow profile. I have nicknamed it "needle" because of that. It get's VERY narrow at the waist (just about one cm). The blade has a bit of a diamond shaped cross section. Hilt is horn. The eyes in the parrot seem to be cut glass, but could be rock crystal. The pendokok i believe is silver. The flashing grain woods on the sheath are quite intense and beautifully arranged. Some folks have suggested to me that this is an anak alang, but if so it is of a dhapur i have never seen on other blades of that category. ![]() All comments are welcome. ![]() |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,716
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Hello David,
wow, a real beauty. ![]() ![]() My guess would be Peninsula, the hilt and the scabbard toe let me think like this. I have a very similar keris respective the blade shape in my collection, see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=panjang, post #40 The blade is as well like a needle. Regards, Detlef |
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#3 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
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![]() Quote:
But wouldn't this keris of yours be from Sumatra? I do also find the parrot hilt a bit Peninsula like, but i believe i have seen Sumatran sheaths with this kind of toe before. Anyway, thanks for your input. ![]() |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
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Yes, the one with the ivory hilt. The hilt isn't original to this keris. The blade lengths is without pesi 36,5 cm. The affinity I have seen is by the gandik area and the slenderness of the blade. I never have been sure from where this keris coming. Agree, I think to have seen Sumatra scabbards with this kind of toe before. Your keris look in all parts original, so my guess.
Regards, Detlef |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 188
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A very interesting and good-looking piece. I especially like the way the ukiran has been cut on the back; very neatly done.
As for origins, I'm not speaking from any position of authority here, but to me the dress looks very Malaysian, especially the pendokok. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that from Sumatera, but would love to see pics if others have! |
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#6 | |
Keris forum moderator
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Location: Nova Scotia
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#7 |
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Location: Nova Scotia
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BTW, i also lean towards a Malay origin, though i can't say specifically where.
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#8 | ||||
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Hello David,
Thanks for posting that beauty of yours! Quote:
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Regards, Kai |
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#9 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,232
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As I understand, the most old examples of this Burung Serindit hilt form are coming from the opposite coast - Perlis, Kedah, Perak. Also the elongated Buntut Lipas of scabbard is associated with this coast. Perhaps there is a little possibility the sampir has been very slightly changed in form at some time. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Belgium
Posts: 37
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David I like the quality of the photographs very much.
Can you give some advise of how to make them? |
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
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Of course there are many other ways to approach the matter, both with natural light and strobes if you have the equipment. Below is one thread we have on the subject, but i think there are more if you search. ![]() http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=photography |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Belgium
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Thanks David, i red the article and that will help me further. I am studying the keris from the blacksmith point of view and have to include close-up photographs in my writings about the subject.
The low quality photography i produce at present does not contribute to the level of the work i try to achieve. |
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#13 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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![]() Quote:
Last edited by Gavin Nugent; 12th September 2023 at 05:28 AM. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,249
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I fully agree, Gavin. Apologies for not responding to Gustav's correction! Not sure what happened back then - must have been a senior moment, twice...
![]() ![]() BTW, any ideas what might be the southernmost limit for traditional production of this burung serindit hilt type? They might have been traded more widely while apparently genuine ensembles seem to point to the NW coast of the Malay peninsula (and possibly the NE Sumatran coast across the Straits?). During the 20th century, this motif seems to have been picked up more widely by carvers. Interestingly, a distinct style of non-stylized representation of cockatoo hilt (for sewar) hails from the northeastern coast of Sumatra (now part of Aceh and possibly reaching down to the Deli/Asahan region?) and apparently the western coast of the Malay peninsula, too. This seems to be an older type than the keris hilt. Regards, Kai |
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#15 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
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Thank you gentlemen for adding a few additional thoughts on this keris.
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#16 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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To me personally, I feel the Tumbuk (Sewar to some) with the distinct parrot head hulu and parrot head sampir can be in some instances be a good deal older than the keris hulu, and it does seem, (but) at what point I do not know, that the keris hulu did find its way over to the east coast too, in both keris and Sundang as seen in these pages. It is possible they developed together though as many of the Sundang I've seen from Malaysia/Malaysia Borneo appear to carry an eagle head pommel.... and very Terengganu like blades and features... Just out of interest, when looking at the Perak Royal Regalia photo from 1907, there is a large example of the Tumbuk with a head that looks dressed like the Parang Nabur/Beladah Belabang of Kalimantan. One of our learned colleagues here calls them Pedang Salin Alai Waloet. The most southern point, I've never really explored.... delving in to the mind's archives, it seems to have stopped at the Sultanate of Deli and the regions below had their own unique carving styles.... I may look in to further some day if a LONG life is had. A couple of random links, the book to this link since released. https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sun...d-islamic-arts Perak Royal regalia https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sun...d-islamic-arts And one for good luck https://sembangkuala.wordpress.com/2...um-sultan-ali/ |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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For reference and context.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...A_As1928-115-a And its sheath https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...A_As1928-115-b |
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