Java kris for discussion

[naga82]

Hi all

I would like to post this java kris. I added a similar blade to the photo. one i think is very much older than the other.
Would love to hear your comments.?

[David]

Hi Naga and welcome to the forum.
I think you forgot to actually add you photos... ;)

[naga82]

Oops yes missed the upload button.
I will try again.

[naga82]

Dont understand why the photos are not comming through?
3rd time lucky maybe.

[Rick]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631

[David]

Naga, you double posted on this so i removed you second upload. Please keep in mind that as a new member your posts are moderated so they do not appear until they are viewed and approved by a moderator. Sometimes that takes a moment or two. ;)

[Marcokeris]

Nice kerises and painted sarong :eek:

[Jean]

Hello Naga82,
Typical contemporary Madurese blades?
Regards

[A. G. Maisey]

Yep

Nice sunggingan work, and a pretty unusual pendok

[David]

I was noting the pendok Alan and i don't believe i've seen one quite like it before. And the sunggingan work features wayang as well. Would there be some particular significance to dress so heavily decorated with wayang characters?

[GIO]

The blade without hilt seems to have a rather unusual dapor towards the tip. The blade was bent and then re-aligned ? Or it is because of the angle of the photo ?

[A. G. Maisey]

The blue base colour of the wrongko indicates that it is the prerogative of a Penewu, the leader of 1000 men in the old days.

The use of wayang characters can be seen as a personal decorative preference on the one hand, or it can be seen as a connection to the wayang. These characters are the Punakawans, the moral lessons that are taught through the wayang are to traditional Javanese people something like the moral lessons taught through scripture, so if you have these Punakawans right there where they can be clearly seen, it triggers a thought process that generates the entire story that involves the Punakawans. Javanese people love the Punakawans, and seeing them will generate a nice feeling, maybe a feeling of pleasant anticipation. This feeling will of course transfer to the person wearing that display, and perhaps make his socialising a little easier.

[David]

Thanks Alan. I do understand that the wayang are seen in this light, but seeing it on BOTH wrongko AND the pendok made me wonder if perhaps the previous owner had a particular association with the wayang theatre. Your explanation was most helpful. :)

[David]

BTW Naga, you hilt is oriented the wrong way. It should be twisted 180º in the opposite direction. ;)

[A. G. Maisey]

When we talk about associations with wayang, we're really only talking about the dalang, the puppet master, yes, they do wear a keris during the performance, but I doubt very much that one would wear a sunggingan, it would be more likely to be a pusaka, or if not that, just an ordinary dress keris, nothing as fancy as this sunggingan.I feel that perhaps a collector may have had this one put together for his own enjoyment, and hit upon the idea of the wayang motif in the pendok.

[David]

Thanks Alan. Makes sense. :)