sepokal for ID and comments

Gustav · 5th September 2009, 09:34 PM

Dear All,

I would highly appreciate any technical and aesthetical comments on this Keris.

It seems to be all original (even buntut) Bugis Sepokal, with a see ivory (I think) hilt.

The length of the blade: 33,2 cm (13,07 inches)
The width of the gonjo: 8,2 cm (3,23 inches)

An interesting detail is the older damage on one side of batang, where it possibly should appear, when the sarung is held in the left hand for parrying(?). Has anybody see something resembling?

Is there a region (Bugis) which preferes Pamor Uler Lulut?

Kind regards,
Gustav

Gustav · 5th September 2009, 09:48 PM

Here the pics

Gustav · 5th September 2009, 09:50 PM

more pics

Sajen · 5th September 2009, 09:50 PM

Hello Gustav,

nice keris with a beautiful handle. The demage look to my eyes like rat bite this, I have seen this by old shields and spears. This happen when people who have eaten something with their hands touch the wood and the wood get the smell and taste from meat.

sajen

Gustav · 5th September 2009, 10:01 PM

Hello Sajen,

thanks for the less romantical version, most probably you are wright.

------------------------------------------------------------

Please excuse me for the chaotical order of pictures! (And also for some to much.)

Sajen · 5th September 2009, 10:30 PM

not to much pictures!

Gustav · 6th September 2009, 12:48 PM

Please, do eat only after touching your keris!

BluErf · 6th September 2009, 04:55 PM

I second the mouse theory.

At any rate, in some Malay areas, when they see such damage, esp fresh damage, they won't say that the mouse did it. Rather, they'd say "Cik Siti ada keraja", literally, "Miss Siti did some work". Miss Siti is of course not a real person, but in reference to the mouse. The belief was that if you said the mouse did some work, they'd come back again to do more work.

Regarding the keris, to me, I'd classify this as a Sulawesi keris. Nice blade indeed, and even nicer hilt!

Very voluptuous. The sheath is great too; I like the grain on the wood.

I dont' think there is any specific Bugis areas that prefers a particular pamor, though I'd say pamor uler lurut is one of the common uncommon pamor (ok, don't know if I make sense

). That means the vast majority of Bugis kerises have the kulit semangka pamor, usually combined with ujung gunung. The rest would have the more uncommon pamor such as raja abala raja, uler lurut, sader saleh, lintah kemukus, and others. So these are the uncommon pamor, and uler lurut is the more common ones amongst this category of uncommon pamors, based on my own personal observation, of course.

5th September 2009, 09:34 PM	#1
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	sepokal for ID and comments Dear All, I would highly appreciate any technical and aesthetical comments on this Keris. It seems to be all original (even buntut) Bugis Sepokal, with a see ivory (I think) hilt. The length of the blade: 33,2 cm (13,07 inches) The width of the gonjo: 8,2 cm (3,23 inches) An interesting detail is the older damage on one side of batang, where it possibly should appear, when the sarung is held in the left hand for parrying(?). Has anybody see something resembling? Is there a region (Bugis) which preferes Pamor Uler Lulut? Kind regards, Gustav

5th September 2009, 09:48 PM	#2
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	the pictures Here the pics Attached Images

5th September 2009, 09:50 PM	#3
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	more pics Attached Images

6th September 2009, 12:48 PM	#7
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	Please, do eat only after touching your keris! Attached Images

5th September 2009, 09:50 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello Gustav, nice keris with a beautiful handle. The demage look to my eyes like rat bite this, I have seen this by old shields and spears. This happen when people who have eaten something with their hands touch the wood and the wood get the smell and taste from meat. sajen

5th September 2009, 10:01 PM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	Hello Sajen, thanks for the less romantical version, most probably you are wright. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please excuse me for the chaotical order of pictures! (And also for some to much.)

5th September 2009, 10:30 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	not to much pictures!

6th September 2009, 04:55 PM	#8
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I second the mouse theory. At any rate, in some Malay areas, when they see such damage, esp fresh damage, they won't say that the mouse did it. Rather, they'd say "Cik Siti ada keraja", literally, "Miss Siti did some work". Miss Siti is of course not a real person, but in reference to the mouse. The belief was that if you said the mouse did some work, they'd come back again to do more work. Regarding the keris, to me, I'd classify this as a Sulawesi keris. Nice blade indeed, and even nicer hilt! Very voluptuous. The sheath is great too; I like the grain on the wood. I dont' think there is any specific Bugis areas that prefers a particular pamor, though I'd say pamor uler lurut is one of the common uncommon pamor (ok, don't know if I make sense ). That means the vast majority of Bugis kerises have the kulit semangka pamor, usually combined with ujung gunung. The rest would have the more uncommon pamor such as raja abala raja, uler lurut, sader saleh, lintah kemukus, and others. So these are the uncommon pamor, and uler lurut is the more common ones amongst this category of uncommon pamors, based on my own personal observation, of course.