Bugis Keris

[scarroy]

Hi
What do you think about this keris, I'm from France, so my bad english.
There are some old dutch coins on the scabbard.
Peut etre que quelqu'un parle ou comprend le français.
Thank you, Merci beaucoup.

[BluErf]

This is a Bugis keris from Sulawesi. The characteristic 'awkward' flat sampir (top sheath), the tall hilt cup, and the distinctively downward-curving pistol grip handle. Funny, we have been looking at quite a few Sulawesi kerises on this forum recently.

This is the 1st time that I see coins mounted on a keris sheath like this. A shame though... the wood seemed to be of good grain and the mounting is more of an eyesore than enhancement to the piece, but if the coins were an old addition, I suppose they should be left on the wood as part of its history.

[scarroy]

Hi BluErf,
thank for the answer, the coins are dated from 1940-45, some people said that
I must take off the coins, what do you think.
Do you have more informations about this Keris?

Best regards Sidney

[Henk]

Hello Scarroy,

I think BluErf is right. I've never seen a keris with coins on the scabbard either. The coins are real dutch money. I'm not very good with old money, but I see a quarter of the dutch guilder that was, as far as I know only used in Indonesia, the former Dutch Indies. I wouldn't remove them. The coins have as far as I know hardly collectors value and when you remove them you have some nasty holes in the scabbard. The coins on the scabbard are very unusual, but it is a very nice keris.

[DAHenkel]

Do not remove the coins. You will not improve the look of the keris by doing so and as others have noted, the coins are rare and unusual.

Leave it be.