Talismanic inscription on keris

[kai]

Hello Panah,

1. Yes, all 4 are in the same collection of a total number of 12 keris. Only four of these have talismanic inscriptions on the blades.

Thanks, that's an amazing collection, especially this group of keris with talismanic inlays!

2. You are absolutely right, three of them, 2nd 3rd and 4th are in Robert Hales book: page 118 & 131. (I will update you if they are really the ones in the book or just similar).

Those 3 are definitely in the book!

Regards,
Kai

[panah]

Hi all,
I thought of reviving this thread and continue this topic.

Pardon my long absence for this thread, life can be too hard and plates can be too full, literally. I need to say, my research is actually broader than 'keris abjad' or 'keris bertatah', the names that they are used to be called. For me, this is another phase of keris development, the inclusion of Islamic elements by the form of art. I also encountered few keris with wafaq, (wifiq for those grammatically particular ) and also interesting 'Muthanna' type of embelishment.

@rasdan, that was a nice input and you are right about the Persian/Urdu influence. In fact, the their influence is also key to the development of Jawi script and Malay lexicons. And I am in Kuala Lumpur too, to answer your question.

Dealing with topic talismanic, azimat (jimat), charms is not easy coz it need understanding the practice itself - @David was right. What I can conclude is for this particular type of charm cannot be deciphered, although it is possible for magic squares or rajah. Yes it created beautiful pattern add character of the blades, but it is also not just mere decoration- only the scribe knew what it is intended for. It is something like recreating pamor, but just in the principles. Just like actual pamor, we can only guess or relate their actual meaning and capabilities.

And this ,i believe, is the form of art of the 18th century onwards where in the early days was limited to royal families. My basis is where Islamic world decorative techniques really absorbed and implemented in the region as seen on the blades. Interestingly, this collection of Peninsular keris were actually from the East Coast, once owned by a royal blood kerabat before it went to the hands of several European collectors.

And, only 12 found their way back to Malaysia.

I noticed another post about Keris Abjad, using my images too, I hope we could merge it here so it could gain good information on this subject.

Selamat semuanya

[panah]

I just want to share a recent finding on the content of a kitab that might shed light on the keris abjad and the inscriptions. There is sort of a formula for it and there is a commentary written in Buginese Lontara towards the end. And this manuscript is about traditional healing - adding more mystery.

[Gavin Nugent]

A very interesting subject. All very rare and beautiful keris.

I've not shared this publicly before.

An inlaid Malaysian spear of robust fighting size and form.

Both sides are inlaid in this manner, total variations to each side.
The side pictured with the Alif" pamor, nil pamor to the reverse.

A point I particularly notice is;

This spear and other keris with Inlaid scripts I hold, they all well raised above the surfaces like the Mughal Lucknow ZarBuland method

All these keris in the discussion with repeated motifs/scripts, the inlay is all flush with the metal surfaces.

Gavin