A Balinese Keris (?) for discussion

[Battara]

Well I can surly say that I like the pamor and the condition of that pamor on the blade!

Definitely not a tourist piece!

[David]

Well José, i don't think there was ever a question that this could be a tourist piece. Certain size alone would not be an indication of that.
I believe we can find numerous smaller Bali keris about that are genuinely antique and legitimate. The smallest one i own in just under 13 inches (33cm). This one is a bit smaller at just under 12 inches. Certainly by Javanese standards that would be too large for the usual patrem. Frankly i am uncertain that patrems were even a thing in Balinese keris culture. I can't really recall actually ever seeing any. But one thing i notice that is different in the presentation of this small Bali keris from my own is the sheath size. While my 13 in. Bali blade is clothed in normal sized Bali dress Paul's example wears dress that is more proportionate to the smaller size of the blade. As an accessory of Balinese dress the sheath and hilt need to be of a certain minimum size to be appropriately wore in public. The smaller dress of Paul's keris does not allow for that style of wear so perhaps it is meant as a patrem or perhaps it was made for a small boy.
Alan, if you are tuned into this thread perhaps you have some insights to add.

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by David

The smaller dress of Paul's keris does not allow for that style of wear so perhaps it is meant as a patrem or perhaps it was made for a small boy.
Alan, if you are tuned into this thread perhaps you have some insights to add.

Exactly! What if the Keris was meant for a boy?!

Or what if the Keris was meant for a rather small man?! I am rather small myself, but I certainly saw many Indonesians smaller than me.

[A. G. Maisey]

Kuta Beach, Bali, Melasti 2015

Would you argue with this man?

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Kuta Beach, Bali, Melasti 2015

Would you argue with this man?

Aha... that must be it!

The traditional Indonesian wearing the traditional dress with the assorted Kris.

Right?!

[A. G. Maisey]

Not all Balinese dress is a sarung up to the armpits. That is formal dress, mostly for aristocrats and bridegrooms.

Usual attire is sarung --- or was a sarung, these days its Levis.

Formal dress requires a larger than life keris with the hilt up over the shoulder.

With normal daily dress a keris was usually smaller, often about the same as an old-time Jawa keris.

Very, very often blades revered as pusaka blades in Bali were made in Jawa.

We're used to seeing big finely made keris and thinking of them as typical Bali.

George Gershwin : Porgy & Bess : Sportin' Life

Look at this keris. Forget that you think you know where it comes from.

What do you see?

[Paul de Souza]

Oh. It looks like a keris topengan (mask pendok) from East Java but without the topengan.

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Kuta Beach, Bali, Melasti 2015

Would you argue with this man?

Well no, i would not argue with him. My only problem with using this as an example though is that this is a 21st Century Balinese man while Paul's small keris in its small dress most certainly is not. While the manner in which this man is wearing his keris is most probably perfectly acceptable today, was it so in the 19th or 18th or 17th centuries?