BIRD FORM KERIS HANDLES, SUMATRA

[VANDOO]

I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INCLUDE ONLY BIRD FORM KERIS HANDLES FROM SUMATRA. I HAVE EXCLUDED THOSE OF THE KINGFISHER FORM AS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY ARE FROM MALAYSIA. I HAVE SEEN THEM REFERRED TO AS GARUDA HILTS, WOODPECKER (GAYO), AND HUMMINGBIRD. THERE SEEMS TO BE A WIDE VARIETY OF FORMS THE ONES I CONCENTRATED ON HERE WERE THOSE WITH LONG BEAKS. THERE ARE A LOT OF SHORT BEAKED FORMS BUT I AM NOT SURE THEY ARE FROM SUMATRA. THERE IS A FORM IDENTIFIED AS BUGIS FROM SULUWEZI THAT CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE OTHERS SO IS INCLUDED 3RD FROM BOTTOM. FEEL FREE TO REMOVE ANY OR IDENTIFY ANY EXAMPLES NOT FROM SUMATRA AND TO ADD PICTURES AND COMMENTS. THE FIRST ONE WAS IDENTIFIED AS WOODPECKER. TWO EXAMPLES HAVE A LIZZARD ON THE HEAD WHAT DOES THAT REPRESENT? I CROPPED AND REMOVED THE MADURA HANDLE.

[Sajen]

The one from ivory (Fig. 38) is from the north of Java or Madura and the one direct on the right from this is from Madura too.
Most of the shown handles are from Lampung apart from the first one, I think from Aceh or Gayo.

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

Here some of mine, they was shown in a other thread before but here again. The last one have lost his beak long time ago.

[Sajen]

Here a similar one like the first you have shown.

[VVV]

Here is my Burung.

[VANDOO]

HERE IS ANOTHER ONE TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS, AND ONE DESCRIBED AS NEW BUGIS AND THE LAST ONE WAS LABELED TEGAL I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS??
I AM SURPRIZED AT THE VARIETY OF THESE ITS A PLEASURE TO SEE THEM.

[David]

Barry, i suspect that your last one here might not have been intended as a bird, but instead one of the long nosed wayang character. I have a similar example which i definitely do not interpret as a bird.

[VANDOO]

IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO BE SURE BUT I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT. I CERTIANLY SEE NO BIRD IN YOUR EXCELLENT EXAMPLE, THE ONE I POSTED HAS A LOT OF CARVED DESIGN ON THE FACE AND HEAD (FEATHERS OR HAIR)??
BUT BOTH SHURELY HAVE A BIG BEAK , I THINK I WILL NAME HIM CYRANO
DOES THE WAYANG CHARACTER HAVE QUALITIES LIKE CYRANO

[David]

When the "beak" turns upward like both these example do i tend to question the bird attribution. Same goes for the tajong hilts which have long been described (mistakenly i believe) as "kingfisher" hilts.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE A COUPLE MORE OF BIRD FORM, I AM NOT SURE WHERE THEY ARE FROM. THE IVORY PARROT IS IN THE COLLECTION IN THE K. L. MUSEUM. PERHAPS YOU HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE? BUT I DON'T GET TIRED OF LOOKING AT IT SO ENJOY

[A. G. Maisey]

Barry, Tegal is a town in Jawa.

[sirek]

A polychrome cockatoo, from Bali

(or some sort of parrot species )

[GIO]

Here is my cockatoo.
Sumatra ? peninsular ? composite ?

[GIO]

Originally Posted by sirek

A polychrome cockatoo, from Bali

(or some sort of parrot species )

Sirek, are you sure it is from Bali ?
I respectfully have my doubts

[David]

Here's a recent Madura example i have shown before.
Gio, your blade certainly looks peninsula. Can't say for the hilt though.

[Marcokeris]

Originally Posted by GIO

Here is my cockatoo.
Sumatra ? peninsular ? composite ?

Very very nice. IMO peninsular

[fearn]

Just a couple of zoological notes:

--Hummingbirds are strictly new world. The Indonesian equivalents are sunbirds.

The other, more interesting question is why no one mentions hornbills in this context. The ones posted by Vandoo, VVV, and Sajen certainly look like hornbills to me.

Best,

F

[sirek]

the story of the seller was: that he originally comes from bali
and that all parts belong together and are not composed

but I'm not knowledgeable enough to confirm this ,

but I would like to hear someone else's opinion if the seller was wrong

[VANDOO]

I AGREE THE HORNBILL AND KINGFISHER BOTH HAVE A LOT MORE CULTURAL IMPORTANCE IN THOSE AREAS. THE KERIS IN QUESTION WAS IDENTIFIED AS A HUMMINGBIRD KERIS IN THE BOOK BUT I WONDERED IF IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A HORNBILL SUCH AS THIS ONE.
ITS TOO BAD THEY DON'T HAVE NATIVE HUMMINGBIRDS AS NOTHING ELSE CAN FLY LIKE THEY DO AND THEY ARE PRETTY LITTLE CRITTERS. I GUESS ITS ONLY FAIR AS WE DON'T HAVE HORNBILLS OVER HERE.

EVERYONE SURE HAS SOME BEAUTIFUL AND UNUSUAL KERIS. THE LAST ONE IS SURE NEAT IT HAS PHOENIX AND A LOBSTER OR SCORPION? I HAD NOT SEEN THAT BEFORE. I HAVENT SEEN ONE WITH A STORK FOR FERTILITY YET

[David]

Originally Posted by sirek

the story of the seller was: that he originally comes from bali
and that all parts belong together and are not composed

but I'm not knowledgeable enough to confirm this ,

but I would like to hear someone else's opinion if the seller was wrong

I am fairly confident in stating that your blade is not a Bali or Lombok blade. The dress is also not like any Bali dress i know either by motif or design, though the shape of the sheath is somewhat similar to the Bali gayaman style sheaths. But it looks more likely to be from Madura is regards to the carving (though given the lobster motif it might be from Nova Scotia )
The blade certainly looks Bugis to my eyes.

[David]

Sirek, i photo shopped a little of the detail into your shot for better reference.

[kai]

Indeed, a Bugis blade IMHO.

The fittings look post-WW2 to me. To me the Bugis blade and fittings with Bali influence makes an origin from Lombok quite probable (with a more recent Madura composite being the other possibility); the non-traditional motifs may make it difficult to prove it one way or the other though.

Regards,
Kai

[sirek]

Thank you for your effort and comment,

it's always nice to hear other opinions especially because I am not as experienced as most members.

I am convinced that the selling party has not always correct and complete information, but by the shape and size (and of course the story of the seller) I thought I recognized a Bali shape.
but it is possible to be completely different, therefore I appreciate the comment

[Laowang]

Adding my avatar to the collection. Not technically a bird-form, although certainly close enough in resemblance. Indragiri, I think.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Indeed, a Bugis blade IMHO.

The fittings look post-WW2 to me. To me the Bugis blade and fittings with Bali influence makes an origin from Lombok quite probable (with a more recent Madura composite being the other possibility); the non-traditional motifs may make it difficult to prove it one way or the other though.

Regards,
Kai

Agree complete with you Kai. One thing is to add maybe, the selut seems not to fit well with the hilt.

Regards,

Detlef