Is a good Keris?

Flavio · 29th January 2006, 05:00 PM

Hello, this is just ended:

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...ocusZbsQQfviZ1

I know nothing about keris, but i like it, and so... Could you please illuminate me on what is it and if is it good (old, modern, tourist piece or what) or NOT

Thank you very much

Lew · 29th January 2006, 05:21 PM

Flavio

I am no an expert on keris but this one is an older example probably Sumatran or Bugis? Nice find congrats.

Lew

Rick · 29th January 2006, 05:54 PM

I'd lean toward Bugis origin .
This keris seems to have all the essentials and then some .
Nice pamor , a nicely figured wood for the wrongko and a nice fit in the scabbard .
The pamor seems a little bright though which brings up the question of age for me . Possibly the blade has been recently stained .
Is that an ivory button on the end of the scabbard ?

Flavio · 29th January 2006, 06:27 PM

Thank you Lew. Hi Rick, i don't know if there is an ivory button at the end of the scabbard, but as soon as i will receive the keris i will post some better pictures. Here some dimensions that the seller communicates to me (if this can help): total leght of the keris is 36cm, length of the blade is 27cm. Thank you very much.

BluErf · 30th January 2006, 12:48 PM

This is a Terengganu keris. Malay in origin, but definitely with a lot of Bugis influence. If I remember correctly, I read that historically, the Terengganu Malays had a lot of dealings (and thus cultural exchange) with the Bugis from the Johore and Riau areas.

This is not a 'tourist keris'. Nice sheath with typical Terengganu-style 'clipped' tips. Good kemuing wood. Looks like it fits well, but normally, the ganja of the blade should stick out a bit. For this specimen, I see that it sinks in a little. The hulu is the typical 'ayam teleng' form (crudely translated to "twisted neck chicken"), which is an archetypal terengganu form. The pendoko (hilt cup) is a bit rough, but that's the most easily rectifiable part.

BluErf · 30th January 2006, 12:52 PM

Btw, Kampungnet is down, so I can't show you my Terengganu keris, which has a strikingly similar blade, right down to the 'broken' kembang kacang, or Bima's claw.

Fortunately, my Photobucket account is still alive.

Say hi to the 'brother'.

Flavio · 30th January 2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Is that an ivory button on the end of the scabbard ?

Hello Rick, i have asked at the seller and yes, is a button of ivory. Thanks

Flavio · 30th January 2006, 04:24 PM

[QUOTE=BluErf]
This is not a 'tourist keris'. QUOTE]

Hello BluErf, you say that this keris isn't a 'tourist keris', and this is a great thing!!

, but do you have any idea about the age? Thank you very much

nechesh · 30th January 2006, 06:59 PM

Flavio, age is ALWAYS a tricky thing to determine with keris, especially judging it merely from a few bad ebay photos. I would say, though, that in spite of Ricks concern about high contrast pamor material that your keris is at least 19thC. My guess would be early to mid century. Rest assured you got a pretty good deal on this one. Between you and Lew's recent purchase it's giving us poorer keris collectors so hope.

Flavio · 30th January 2006, 11:34 PM

Wow, at least 19th century

!! Great, thank you very much nechesh, as soon as i will receive the keris i will post some better pictures. Thank you again

Flavio · 8th February 2006, 11:18 PM

Hello friends, the keris is arrived. It's very nice and i think that is quite old. Tomorrow i will show you some pictures. Thank you.

Flavio · 9th February 2006, 06:53 PM

Here are the pictures. Let me know what do you think. About the tip of the scabbard i don't think that is ivory, maybe a portion of a shell. What about the small circular depression near the ganja? Is on both faces of blade, but it is not passing.

29th January 2006, 05:00 PM	#1
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Is a good Keris? Hello, this is just ended: http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...ocusZbsQQfviZ1 I know nothing about keris, but i like it, and so... Could you please illuminate me on what is it and if is it good (old, modern, tourist piece or what) or NOT Thank you very much Last edited by Flavio; 29th January 2006 at 05:40 PM.

9th February 2006, 06:53 PM	#12
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Here are the pictures. Let me know what do you think. About the tip of the scabbard i don't think that is ivory, maybe a portion of a shell. What about the small circular depression near the ganja? Is on both faces of blade, but it is not passing. Attached Images Last edited by Flavio; 9th February 2006 at 10:20 PM.

29th January 2006, 05:21 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Flavio I am no an expert on keris but this one is an older example probably Sumatran or Bugis? Nice find congrats. Lew

29th January 2006, 05:54 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I'd lean toward Bugis origin . This keris seems to have all the essentials and then some . Nice pamor , a nicely figured wood for the wrongko and a nice fit in the scabbard . The pamor seems a little bright though which brings up the question of age for me . Possibly the blade has been recently stained . Is that an ivory button on the end of the scabbard ?

29th January 2006, 06:27 PM	#4
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Thank you Lew. Hi Rick, i don't know if there is an ivory button at the end of the scabbard, but as soon as i will receive the keris i will post some better pictures. Here some dimensions that the seller communicates to me (if this can help): total leght of the keris is 36cm, length of the blade is 27cm. Thank you very much.

30th January 2006, 12:48 PM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	This is a Terengganu keris. Malay in origin, but definitely with a lot of Bugis influence. If I remember correctly, I read that historically, the Terengganu Malays had a lot of dealings (and thus cultural exchange) with the Bugis from the Johore and Riau areas. This is not a 'tourist keris'. Nice sheath with typical Terengganu-style 'clipped' tips. Good kemuing wood. Looks like it fits well, but normally, the ganja of the blade should stick out a bit. For this specimen, I see that it sinks in a little. The hulu is the typical 'ayam teleng' form (crudely translated to "twisted neck chicken"), which is an archetypal terengganu form. The pendoko (hilt cup) is a bit rough, but that's the most easily rectifiable part.

30th January 2006, 12:52 PM	#6
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Btw, Kampungnet is down, so I can't show you my Terengganu keris, which has a strikingly similar blade, right down to the 'broken' kembang kacang, or Bima's claw. Fortunately, my Photobucket account is still alive. Say hi to the 'brother'.

30th January 2006, 04:24 PM	#8
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	[QUOTE=BluErf] This is not a 'tourist keris'. QUOTE] Hello BluErf, you say that this keris isn't a 'tourist keris', and this is a great thing!! , but do you have any idea about the age? Thank you very much

30th January 2006, 06:59 PM	#9
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Flavio, age is ALWAYS a tricky thing to determine with keris, especially judging it merely from a few bad ebay photos. I would say, though, that in spite of Ricks concern about high contrast pamor material that your keris is at least 19thC. My guess would be early to mid century. Rest assured you got a pretty good deal on this one. Between you and Lew's recent purchase it's giving us poorer keris collectors so hope.

30th January 2006, 11:34 PM	#10
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Wow, at least 19th century !! Great, thank you very much nechesh, as soon as i will receive the keris i will post some better pictures. Thank you again

8th February 2006, 11:18 PM	#11
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello friends, the keris is arrived. It's very nice and i think that is quite old. Tomorrow i will show you some pictures. Thank you.