#1352 Keris

[Bill M]

I see a praying man as the handle, but often it has been represented as a "fevered man" in my syncretism I see both and more.

What do you see, overall

[Bill M]

https://www.britannica.com/topic/religious-syncretism

[kai]

What do you see, overall
A really nice keris Sumatra/Straits...

Sorry, Bill, could not resist! :)

Back to discussing the symbolism embued into the hilt as this seems what Bill is asking for?

Regards,
Kai

[David]

A really nice keris Sumatra/Straits...
I would agree! ;)
Bill, we have discussed this hilt form quite a bit over the years. You might find this thread helpful.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10083&highlight=Jawa+demam

[Bill M]

I would agree! ;)
Bill, we have discussed this hilt form quite a bit over the years. You might find this thread helpful.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10083&highlight=Jawa+demam

Thank you David. Fascinating discourse on these hilts. There seems to be common agreement with the carvers of the arms, legs, bodies - but with open expressions for each artist.

"It represents a deity, half bird, half human, probably a Garuda, in a squatting position, holding it sides as if it was shivering with cold (Demam means fever in Bahasa)."

http://old.blades.free.fr/keris/introduction/ukiran/ukiran_sumatra.htm

[David]

"It represents a deity, half bird, half human, probably a Garuda, in a squatting position, holding it sides as if it was shivering with cold (Demam means fever in Bahasa)."

http://old.blades.free.fr/keris/introduction/ukiran/ukiran_sumatra.htm
hmmm....may takeaway from the thread i linked you to is that many possibilities exist for the source representation, from wayang characters to gods and ogres. But i am not particularly inclined to look at the source of this form to necessarily be Garuda. :shrug: