Can I have some input on this Golden Kerishilt

[harhond]

Hello dear people,

Can you please comment on this golden Kerishilt I have found.

Many thanks

Raoul

[wolviex]

Welcome!
Here is the link to the discussion at old forum where you can find similiar hilt to that of yours:
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000900.html

Best regards!

[nechesh]

I think the hilt you have here is probably of rather recent making. Certainly late 20th Century, but it well may have been made just yesterday. It has the look of a gold foil overlay, but it's hard to tell just from photos. The stones appear to be medium grade ruby, sapphire and perhaps dioptase (the black stone). The figure appears to be a king or some dewa/deity, but i am not sure who. There is still quite an active trade in these gold hilts in Bali. Unfortunately, many of them are sold to unsuspecting tourists as royal hilts.

[Battara]

I'm inclined to agree with Nechesh. For me the workmanship of the repousse and chasing is more 20c as opposed to more detailed and distinct work done in the 17c. It may even be gold leaf or plate on a copper base.

[Andrew]

Welcome to the forum, harhond.

Can you tell us anything about this? What have you learned? Where did you get it?

[harhond]

The hilt came out of a box that my father is holding for his brother that lives on Bali. We are a mixed blood family (indo).

I have spend also much time on this island and knows that most of the antiques are "made "to order". Even golden hilts.. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/saolim/keris/pages/balinesekerishilts.html# ) check out this site.
It weighs about 260 grams, probably goldplated.

But it is the rest that was in the box that made me think twice, some nice old porcelein bowls, a gunpowderholder decoreted with "old" dutch guilders, and somethig that I have to describe as native war dress and arrowholders, with a lot of small beats, silver and probably bone decorations. I hope to place the pictures of these thing also.

For now

regards