Mixed influences

[BluErf]

Originally Posted by VVV

Bumping this as I hope to get some more comments.
Additional info is that the blade is perfect in the sheath and the mendak seems just slightly too large for the hilt.
Do you see anything Cirebonese in this keris?

Michael

After seeing Ganjawulung's post in my Cirebon thread, I would be asking the same questions... But wow, this would be quite an amazing revelation that the Jawa Demam form we see in Sumatra could have come from Cirebon, and with so little evolution in between!

[BluErf]

But if this keris is Cirebon (thus Javanese), then the fit may not be that perfect, because I've always thought that Javanese kerises shd sit flushed in the sheath. Only Malay and some Bugis/Bugis-influenced kerises sit with the ganja sticking out.

[VVV]

Kai Wee,

The fit is perfect but because of the dry climate up here the blades often get stuck when I press them all the way down
This means that I sometimes even have to remove the hilts to pull them out.
So that's why I let them stick out a bit.

Michael

[BluErf]

Oh I see! Which brings me to another point - remember to oil the sheath and hilts once in a while! Some kerises' hilts and sheaths crack while they were in Europe or other dryer climates...

[asomotif]

dry climate up here

Isn't it more a matter of central heating / isolated houses

[VVV]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Isn't it more a matter of central heating / isolated houses

Maybe a combo?
Where I live, unlike Holland, it's both quite dry and the houses are well isolated.

Michael