Cirebon? Keris for comments

[Athanase]

Hello,

This keris seduced me by his Selut and his old wooden handle.
The ganja iras blade has an unusual dapur (for me). It's very large and thick and when you look at the general proportions of the keris it makes me think that the handle is perhaps not the original one.
I can't estimate the age of the sheath but it is clear that it is newer.

Your comments are welcome.

[kai]

Hello Severin,

This keris seduced me by his Selut and his old wooden handle.

The hilt seems to be a well-worn and genuinely old example of its type - probably the main prize here. The selut got added later.

The ganja iras blade has an unusual dapur (for me). It's very large and thick and when you look at the general proportions of the keris it makes me think that the handle is perhaps not the original one.

The blade does look interesting. Please post a close-up of the base!

Does the scabbard fit well? Looks quite nice, too.

Regards,
Kai

[Athanase]

Hello Kai
The scabbard fit very well, is made for this blade.
For the Selut I think it's from the early to mid 20th century, but it's just a feeling. (I know nothing about the ancient selut of North and West Java.)

The close up :

[Paul de Souza]

I hope you don't mind me taking the liberty to ride on this thread to get opinions on the attached keris. The odd thing is the hole through the ganja at the head. There is a corresponding hole drilled into the blade aligned to the hole in the ganja. Its like there was a peg to keep the ganja fixed to the blade. Not surprisingly, the ganja is loose and can be removed.

[kai]

A very nice keris, Paul!

Have you contemplated to have it stained? I'm sure the blade would greatly benefit from some warangan!

The odd thing is the hole through the ganja at the head. There is a corresponding hole drilled into the blade aligned to the hole in the ganja. Its like there was a peg to keep the ganja fixed to the blade. Not surprisingly, the ganja is loose and can be removed.

It seems to be a fairly old blade - a loose pesi would be rather the norm than the exception here...

I cannot believe the hole was made on Java to fix the gonjo; OTOH, former owners are on record to have done some dumb things to keris...

Anyway, I can't think of any more plausible reason for this hole, sorry.

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

Hello Séverin,

Thanks for the pics - I hope some of the more knowledgeable members will comment on the blades!

The scabbard fit very well, is made for this blade.

Yes, it's younger - maybe commissioned when the keris got revamped.

For the Selut I think it's from the early to mid 20th century, but it's just a feeling.

Possibly. Maybe others can narrow things down?

(I know nothing about the ancient selut of North and West Java.)

Paul's is a good example of a genuine selut. Sometimes there are also typical North coast mendak added, too. (A search here should turn them up...)

Regards,
Kai