A bugis(?) Keris for comment

[Rafngard]

Hello All, I’m a brand newbie member posting for the first time in the coffee shop.

This is a recent purchase from Epray. The parmor is Ngulit Semangka. The clothes are new (and look Bugis style to me), but the seller says the blade is older, and it does look old to me. However, It doesn’t quite look like straight Bugis blades that I’ve seen on the forum, but my eyes are far from trained on the subject. :shrug:

I’d be happy to hear any thoughts on the question, or on the Keris over all.

Have fun,
Leif

[David]

Welcome to the Warung Leif. :)
Bugis culture is spread throughout the Indonesian archipelago and we can see it's influences in blades from Sulawesi to the Peninsula. That said, i see more Javanese influence in this particular blade than Bugis (though it is not a Javanese blade). My first guess at origin might be Sumatra, but others who specialize in these types of keris might have a better idea. I would indeed agree that it is an antique blade.
I also wouldn't call this dress form Bugis per se. Personally i often miss the subtle differences that distinguish some Sulawesi dress forms from Sumatra and even the Peninsula, but i find it even harder with this relatively new dress as the features of the Jawa Demam hilt and the sheath seem to have been simplified even more over truly older dress forms leaving me little to go on. I can certainly tell you where it is not from (Jawa, Bali, Madura), but i will leave it to other to pigeonhole. I would only be guessing if said Sumatra on the hilt and sheath just like the blade. But i still wouldn't use the name "Bugis" to identify any of this regardless. :shrug:

[BluErf]

Thus keris looks like it was restored in Java, seeing the way the wood is sanded to remove all patina, and polished to a very high shine.

The hilt looks like a copy of a Sulawesi hilt, and the dark colour seems to be inline with Central Javanese aesthetics.

The blade could be Bugis Sulawesi, but I note the peksi is very long and relatively slim.

[Sajen]

Hi Blue,

I think that like Rafngard stated the sarung and hulu are recent work and worked on Java. And when you look closely to the peksi I think that the original one was broken and it's welded on an old javanese peksi.
That's my impression.

Regards,
Detlef

[BluErf]

Ah yes, indeed, the wood is not kemuning. Thanks for pointing out the welded peksi. It looks like the case.

[David]

Ah yes, indeed, the wood is not kemuning. Thanks for pointing out the welded peksi. It looks like the case.
Good pint on the pesi Detlef. I hadn't noticed that and it was one of the reasons i was seeing more Javanese influence in this blade and thought Sumatra might be an origin. But that opinion could be easily changed by those with more information. :)

[Rafngard]

Oh, I had wondered about the peksi, but forgot to mention it.

Old Bugis "restored" in Java in would make a lot of sense. I see a lot of modern Javanese stuff from the same seller.

Thank you all do much for your opinions.

Thanks,
Leif

[David]

I am curious to hear what defines this as a Bugis blade for people. What characteristics of the blade make it specifically Bugis for you?

[Sajen]

I am curious to hear what defines this as a Bugis blade for people. What characteristics of the blade make it specifically Bugis for you?

I am not sure about the Bugis origin but the dapur and pamor let me think that it could be such a blade. :shrug:

Regards,
Detlef

[Rick]

It has the aggressive lean of a Bugis type but the curve is not present that would make it, imo, a Sepokal form .
I'm not sure about the form of the blade in cross-section being particularly Buginese either .

Any chance this could be old Madura work ?
I'm just guessing by the way the pamor appears in the picture . :shrug:

[Rafngard]

I would also be very happy to hear people's definition of what constitutes Bugis. I'm new, I want to learn.


Regarding the cross section, I could try to take a picture, if it would help.

Thanks,
Leif

[A. G. Maisey]

Very probably a dealer's marriage put together in Surabaya.

Wood is likely to be klengkeng.

[David]

Do you have any thoughts on the origins of the blade Alan?

[A. G. Maisey]

Jawa/Madura, pretty ordinary sort of thing, can't really give a classification because of lack of distinguishing features.