Bali Keris

[Gustav]

Alan, thank you!

I would like to add another book, which documents changes in Balinese society and art - "The Life of a Balinese temple: Artistry, Imagination, and History in a Peasant Village" by Hildred Geertz.

My current understanding is, in a simplified version, that one function of Keris in pre-colonial Bali was to denominate the status of a person in the society. And, while the norms of this pre-colonial society were strong, Togogan as Keris hilts were allowed only for the members of Triwangsa, and the material/colour of these hilts had to be gold.

The reglaments of society was more stiff and rigid, the expression in art was more stiff and rigid, literally. Alan, you have showed the hilt from Puri Badung here previously. My memory of it is, while execution of it looks modern, it has this certain (for me) stiffness, which isn't (on this highest level of execution) to be find in modern Balinese hilts.

To say it blunt, the "flourishing" in Balinese art started, when Sudra and Jaba gained wealth and the strict social norms softened after 1908.

[Gustav]

Alan, just sow your expanded post.
Yes exactly. And the Kecak being an invention of 30ties, and Barong dance in the form as it existed in the 30ties being likely not much older then around 1850.

[A. G. Maisey]

I have not read this book of Hildred Geertz', Gustav, it is perhaps something that might interest me, but to be honest, I find that amongst academics who do publish on Bali, there can be quite wide variation in opinions. This, I personally feel is something to be expected, especially where pre-colonial Bali is concerned.

My own knowledge & experience of Bali comes mostly from people, ordinary working people who might be of any caste or clan and craftsmen and priests.

In fact back in the 1980's through to the mid-1990's I spent quite a lot of time in a Brahmin household --- distant relative --- but that gentleman has now moved into a different world.

I do not disdain writings on Bali, & I have read more than a little of the published material, but when I try comparing information gained from reading, with the understandings & beliefs of people who are in positions where their knowledge could be expected to reflect accuracy, I do find that the variations make it more than difficult for me to form any sort of all encompassing opinion in respect of many things.

For example, the understandings that you have of the use of gold & figural hilts. My own understandings vary somewhat from what your understandings appear to be.

I'm not going to get into a ping-pong match about this, there is simply no point in it.

You have your own experience, & I have mine, I have no desire at all to try to change your understandings.

[HughChen]

I have two very similar silver hilts. They are of the same type of the two you shows here.

[David]

Thanks for you comments here Alan. They confirm some previous suspicions i had from when i saw this keris elsewhere.

[Gustav]

Yes, there always is more then one truth.

[A. G. Maisey]

Then we have Samuel Arbesman.

A good friend sent me this, this morning, pretty appropriate for keris related matters, I think.