Anak Alang via Nova Scotia

David · 16th May 2017, 04:57 PM

I am never surprised when keris show up in odd places. I found this Sumatran Anak Alang in a small antique store in Nova Scotia. It was mislabeled as a Javanese keris, but otherwise the shop owner had some awareness of what it was. It's not in the best of shape, but frankly the price was too good to leave it behind and it looked like it needed some love.

I have been calling it the "backward keris" because some aspects seem reversed. The hilt is fixed in that position. I have gone back and forth a little, but based upon the nature of the fine cracks along the side of it i believe it may be horn. I am familiar with this over all form, but i have never seen one with quite the same carved motifs and patterns.
It would also appear that the silver collar is on backwards, though it seems that it may have been this way for a while. I have not decided yet whether it would be worth may trouble (or in my skill set) to fix this. I think that perhaps some years back this old sheath was probably "renovated" The silver end piece is not the same age or patter as the piece at the throat of the keris and isn't really fitted as well. The pendokok may be a lesser white metal or a low-grade silver. Hard to tell at this point.
Please excuse the poor set of photos. I shot these with my iPhone instead of doing a more serious job with my camera. I also cannot provide any more photos as i chose to leave this in my new house in NS and its first "house keris"

Any advice on ifs or how-tos on setting this sheath straight would be appreciated. I would not want to damage the piece further simply to turn all the parts around properly and the silver bands seem rather thin and delicate.

kayoba84 · 17th May 2017, 09:22 AM

If I may ask David, where in Nova Scotia? Which Antique Shop? Lived in Halifax for 6 years some time ago, and travelled extensively throughout the Province..

David · 17th May 2017, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayoba84

If I may ask David, where in Nova Scotia? Which Antique Shop? Lived in Halifax for 6 years some time ago, and travelled extensively throughout the Province..

It was in a store on Quinpool Rd. called Finer Things Antiques. Depending on when you were there they used to be on the corner of Agricola & Almon until just a few years ago.
Many years back i did pick up a touristy contemporary Madurese keris from the Capt. of the Picton Castle in their home port of Lunenburg, NS. If you don't know, that's a 3-masted tall ship that sails around the world every year on educational voyages. Since Bali is one of their ports of call they often brought back a keris or two to stock their storefront in Lunenburg, though they were always rather cheap and a bit touristy. They have since closed that storefront. I did enjoy the one i got from the Capt. for a time because it had been his personal possession and had sailed with him many times around the world, but i finally traded it a few years back to a friend for a Toraja war vest.

David · 18th May 2017, 06:51 AM

So, 100 views and no comments on the keris itself? Suggestions for (or if to) renovation? Comments about the hilt form? Nothing?

Rick · 18th May 2017, 07:22 AM

David,
It was meant to be your NS house keris; it found you in the Maritimes after all.

I'm not you; but were I you I'd just try to reorient the handle and leave the rest alone.

The scabbard toe comes from a different hand than the one that made the collar piece.

David · 18th May 2017, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

David,
It was meant to be your NS house keris; it found you in the Maritimes after all.

I'm not you; but were I you I'd just try to reorient the handle and leave the rest alone.

The scabbard toe comes from a different hand than the one that made the collar piece.

Yeah, i noted that about the toe. Different maker, time and quality. I would image that at some time someone decided to renovate this sheath, took everything off and then replaced the original parts in the wrong position, adding the newer toe piece to replace a damaged one.
I would like to loosen the hilt an re-positon it. I think it may have been glued. Hate when that happens.

GIO · 18th May 2017, 07:16 PM

Interesting piece, David. Should you decide to reverse the hilt, may I suggest you look for a best selut. The one on the kris seems a bad western imitation. I would also try to eliminate the black rust spots on the blade with lemon or pinapple juce, but this is my craze: I hate rust.
The hilt is a simplified version of the so-called "tapak kuda" style and seems really horn. The blade SEEMS too long to be called "anak alang". If it is 18" or more it should be called properly "panjang".
The scabbard tip is really unsightly (another bad imitation ?) but I have no idea how to fix this problem

David · 18th May 2017, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIO

Interesting piece, David. Should you decide to reverse the hilt, may I suggest you look for a best selut. The one on the kris seems a bad western imitation. I would also try to eliminate the black rust spots on the blade with lemon or pinapple juce, but this is my craze: I hate rust.
The hilt is a simplified version of the so-called "tapak kuda" style and seems really horn. The blade SEEMS too long to be called "anak alang". If it is 18" or more it should be called properly "panjang".
The scabbard tip is really unsightly (another bad imitation ?) but I have no idea how to fix this problem

Thanks for your response Gio.
Nope, definitely not long enough for a panjang. Sorry, i am back in the States right now so i can't give you specific measurements, but it is probably the slenderness of the blade that gives the impression that it is longer than the standard Anak Alang.
I'm not convinced that the pendokok is a Western imitation, but it is not a nice one by any means. Likewise i am certain the toe piece is indigenous, but it is certainly a lesser quality than the collar piece.I should have photographed the other side of it which would probably convince you to.
I'm glad you also think the hilt is horn. I am familiar with the "tapak kuda" style and have a nice example on my keris panjang. This one is indeed simpler, but i like it's toned down approach. But i haven't seen any quite like it yet in terms of the positioned motifs.
Working on the blade is an "of course" for me, but i did leave it up there so it will have to wait until July when i return. I attended to some surface rust and let it sit for a bit in WD40 between a few tooth-brushings. The black stuff is always stable (and at times not very removable) so i'm not worried about any further deterioration before i can work on it some more.

16th May 2017, 04:57 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	Anak Alang via Nova Scotia I am never surprised when keris show up in odd places. I found this Sumatran Anak Alang in a small antique store in Nova Scotia. It was mislabeled as a Javanese keris, but otherwise the shop owner had some awareness of what it was. It's not in the best of shape, but frankly the price was too good to leave it behind and it looked like it needed some love. I have been calling it the "backward keris" because some aspects seem reversed. The hilt is fixed in that position. I have gone back and forth a little, but based upon the nature of the fine cracks along the side of it i believe it may be horn. I am familiar with this over all form, but i have never seen one with quite the same carved motifs and patterns. It would also appear that the silver collar is on backwards, though it seems that it may have been this way for a while. I have not decided yet whether it would be worth may trouble (or in my skill set) to fix this. I think that perhaps some years back this old sheath was probably "renovated" The silver end piece is not the same age or patter as the piece at the throat of the keris and isn't really fitted as well. The pendokok may be a lesser white metal or a low-grade silver. Hard to tell at this point. Please excuse the poor set of photos. I shot these with my iPhone instead of doing a more serious job with my camera. I also cannot provide any more photos as i chose to leave this in my new house in NS and its first "house keris" Any advice on ifs or how-tos on setting this sheath straight would be appreciated. I would not want to damage the piece further simply to turn all the parts around properly and the silver bands seem rather thin and delicate. Attached Images

18th May 2017, 07:22 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Predestined David, It was meant to be your NS house keris; it found you in the Maritimes after all. I'm not you; but were I you I'd just try to reorient the handle and leave the rest alone. The scabbard toe comes from a different hand than the one that made the collar piece.

17th May 2017, 09:22 AM	#2
kayoba84 Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 9	If I may ask David, where in Nova Scotia? Which Antique Shop? Lived in Halifax for 6 years some time ago, and travelled extensively throughout the Province..

18th May 2017, 06:51 AM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	So, 100 views and no comments on the keris itself? Suggestions for (or if to) renovation? Comments about the hilt form? Nothing?

18th May 2017, 07:16 PM	#7
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 313	Interesting piece, David. Should you decide to reverse the hilt, may I suggest you look for a best selut. The one on the kris seems a bad western imitation. I would also try to eliminate the black rust spots on the blade with lemon or pinapple juce, but this is my craze: I hate rust. The hilt is a simplified version of the so-called "tapak kuda" style and seems really horn. The blade SEEMS too long to be called "anak alang". If it is 18" or more it should be called properly "panjang". The scabbard tip is really unsightly (another bad imitation ?) but I have no idea how to fix this problem