Bugis Keris For Comment

A. G. Maisey · 8th February 2007, 08:40 PM

Yes, certainly it could be original. If you are not there watching at the time it is done, anything is possible.

However, it is a recognised method of repair, and the way in which it is done can vary from craftsman to craftsman, and in accordance with the nature of the defect. It is not exclusive to this style of handle, but can be found on other handles as well, for example, Javanese handles.

The reason horn is used rather than wood is twofold:- firstly, it is an artistic principle that when you must disguise or eliminate a flaw, one of the most effective ways to do so is to make a virtue of that flaw, thus, when you remove the checked wood, you do not try to blend and hide, you highlight the replacement as a feature.

The second reason is that horn is stronger and more stable than wood. If you cut a selut from a piece of wood it is very probable that the replacement wood will crack and split in a very short period of time. With horn you are actually improving the handle, both in strength, and in beauty.

The reasons that this repair is done are that it is much, much cheaper to make a selut than it is to make a new handle, additionally, if a handle has a particularly nice grain, why would anybody get rid of it, if it can be effectively repaired?

When this part of a handle checks, the opening of the crack on the outside of the handle is very much wider than it is on the inside, next to the hole for the pesi, in fact, sometimes by the time the crack gets down to the pesi hole, it is virtually non-existant.

Another method of repair for these cracks is to bind this part of the handle with silver or copper plaited wire. You most often see this on an ivory handle.

I have had a very large number of handles like this through my hands, and I myself have commissioned this repair to be done many times. As I write I am looking at a badly cracked Bugis handle that will have the same repair done to it in a few weeks time, provided I can get a large enough piece of solid black horn, which is not always that easy in Central Jawa these days.

I agree that there is a possibility that Lew's handle was like this from the day it was made. However, in my experience this is a very slight possibility. The probability is that the horn is a repair.

David · 8th February 2007, 09:02 PM

Actually Kai Wee, if you look closely at the picture you posted of you hilt looking up the hole you can see a crack in the wooden central part on the lower right side, so possibly yours is a repair as well. This crack may have been much larger and unsightly at surface level, but leaving it carved back at the center to anchor the selut makes for a much stronger repair.

Alam Shah · 8th February 2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Maisey

... bind this part of the handle with silver or copper plaited wire. You most often see this on an ivory handle.

An example of another method of repair, more common to ivory hilt, but does appear on wood as well. This is a lower hilt repair, at the buah pinang area.

Lew · 8th February 2007, 10:32 PM

Repaired or not they are all tastefully done and still lovely to behold

Lew

Alam Shah · 8th February 2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Repaired or not they are all tastefully done and still lovely to behold

Lew

I do agree. Btw, your hilt is beautiful, I like it.

This form of work are meant to enhance the strength, reinforcing the base whilst being a work of art. To make the 'selut', is no easy task either, (to me anyway).

During the old days, these hilts are mounted on servicable weapons. Surely its user do not wish it to fall apart during use.

Newsteel · 9th February 2007, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Repaired or not they are all tastefully done and still lovely to behold

Lew

Yup, I agree. The repair work was artistically good. One might not have or difficult to obtain the similar wood or material to work on the damages. Alternatively other materials (in this case buah pinang or metal material) were used.

Alam Shah · 9th February 2007, 12:55 AM

In Martin Kerner's Keris-Griffe Aus Museen Und Privatsammlungen, there is a mention on repair works. A Jawa Demam hilt with the woven wire type. (Pg159-161, Fig: G242). "The figure of Jawa Demam ... ivory of a Sumatran hilt split at the base. In a skillful manner it is kept together with woven wire so that it is at the same time a decoration and takes the function of a selut".

Similar to the other example posted of the wire-works type.

Ok, now back to the horn type...

BluErf · 9th February 2007, 04:51 AM

Looks like my hilt's repair needs repair.

Hi David, the crack you are referring to goes down about 4mm into the base and stops there. There are many hairline cracks on this hilt but it is generally stable.

9th February 2007, 04:51 AM	#8
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Looks like my hilt's repair needs repair. Hi David, the crack you are referring to goes down about 4mm into the base and stops there. There are many hairline cracks on this hilt but it is generally stable. Attached Images

8th February 2007, 08:40 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Yes, certainly it could be original. If you are not there watching at the time it is done, anything is possible. However, it is a recognised method of repair, and the way in which it is done can vary from craftsman to craftsman, and in accordance with the nature of the defect. It is not exclusive to this style of handle, but can be found on other handles as well, for example, Javanese handles. The reason horn is used rather than wood is twofold:- firstly, it is an artistic principle that when you must disguise or eliminate a flaw, one of the most effective ways to do so is to make a virtue of that flaw, thus, when you remove the checked wood, you do not try to blend and hide, you highlight the replacement as a feature. The second reason is that horn is stronger and more stable than wood. If you cut a selut from a piece of wood it is very probable that the replacement wood will crack and split in a very short period of time. With horn you are actually improving the handle, both in strength, and in beauty. The reasons that this repair is done are that it is much, much cheaper to make a selut than it is to make a new handle, additionally, if a handle has a particularly nice grain, why would anybody get rid of it, if it can be effectively repaired? When this part of a handle checks, the opening of the crack on the outside of the handle is very much wider than it is on the inside, next to the hole for the pesi, in fact, sometimes by the time the crack gets down to the pesi hole, it is virtually non-existant. Another method of repair for these cracks is to bind this part of the handle with silver or copper plaited wire. You most often see this on an ivory handle. I have had a very large number of handles like this through my hands, and I myself have commissioned this repair to be done many times. As I write I am looking at a badly cracked Bugis handle that will have the same repair done to it in a few weeks time, provided I can get a large enough piece of solid black horn, which is not always that easy in Central Jawa these days. I agree that there is a possibility that Lew's handle was like this from the day it was made. However, in my experience this is a very slight possibility. The probability is that the horn is a repair.

8th February 2007, 09:02 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Actually Kai Wee, if you look closely at the picture you posted of you hilt looking up the hole you can see a crack in the wooden central part on the lower right side, so possibly yours is a repair as well. This crack may have been much larger and unsightly at surface level, but leaving it carved back at the center to anchor the selut makes for a much stronger repair.

8th February 2007, 10:32 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Repaired or not they are all tastefully done and still lovely to behold Lew

9th February 2007, 12:55 AM	#7
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	In Martin Kerner's Keris-Griffe Aus Museen Und Privatsammlungen, there is a mention on repair works. A Jawa Demam hilt with the woven wire type. (Pg159-161, Fig: G242). "The figure of Jawa Demam ... ivory of a Sumatran hilt split at the base. In a skillful manner it is kept together with woven wire so that it is at the same time a decoration and takes the function of a selut". Similar to the other example posted of the wire-works type. Ok, now back to the horn type...