Some Help with a Balinese Keris

[BSMStar]

Thank you Mick and Henk for you wisdom and input!!!!!!!!!!

I apologize for the poor quality pictures (not enough lighting). I will break out my lights and take better pictures... (busy schedule, but hopefully by this weekend).

I know in Bali, that black and white show the "struggle" or "balance" between good and evil. I have not seen many black sheaths before. Maybe there is a balance with the silver around the black wood?

My question about the silver Bayu (secretly) is my wondering about the status of the original owner, with the rubies and sapphires (and agates around Bayu's base), it probably didn't belong to your average "Joe".... with the black and silver, what the spiritual background or meaning may be.

Thanks again for your insight, I am on a learning curve with Balinese Keris'.

[Mick]

BSMStar

(I finally got your handle right)

Regarding the sequence of quality of material for sheaths, I think ivory and exceptionally fine pelet wound be a tie for top. Ebony (a rather new material) would probably be next followed by regular pellet . The final grade might consist of everything else.

You are right that there are not a lot of ebony sheaths around. I believe that the wood for this would have to have been imported. I have at least one and maybe two. (My stuff is not easily accessible.)

Your original owner was not a regular "Joe". He put near the top materials on this piece (I assume to the best of his ability) and the grip might even have been once gilded. It doesn’t look like it from the picture, but you might find some traces in the deep portions of the figure.

[Sang Keris]

i think u can make a good warangan can make it perfect.....need more contrast...

but overall.. its great..


congrat

[BSMStar]

I am sorry about the quality... but here are some more pictures..., let me know if you need more.

[capt.smash]

Drool................................

[Rick]

Me too ! Drool ........
Great contrast to the pamor !
The luks are so graceful .
Oh to own one like it < sigh >

[Henk]

I was reading, well reading....looking pictures in a book about Lombok Keris. It is in the Indonesian language, so that's why I was looking pictures .

There was a drawing of a keris that had the same dapur as this one. Unfortenately no description about the prabot because the chapter was about pamor. It is not an uncommon prabot and can be found in literature. A shame they didn't use a line to name the dapur. I found also pictures about the same style of dress. Carefully I would say that this keris is from Lombok.

Anyway, it is a beauty!!! Thanks for sharing.