small mini madura keris / comments please

[asomotif]

Any comments on this small madura keris ?

The blade is 14 cms. hilt approx 7 cms / scabbard 30 cms
scabbard is made from one piece.
Blade has a peksi and separate ganja, it has pamor.

But some strange protrusion near the hilt. never seen these before.

[David]

I don't personally understand the re-visioning of a keris in this manner and AFAIK this is not a dahpur that fits into any known pakem. Perhaps someone else knows otherwise. Whenever i see a keris cut up in this manner i always cringe a bit, but maybe there is some purpose for this that i do not understand. :shrug:
I guess this is a patrem, but the dress seems too large for one.

[Lew]

David

I think it is a sample of free hand artistic liberty ;) This just inspires me to break out the old jewelers saw and go a bit crazy on some of my old keris blades :eek: ;) The keris seems more recently made and a bit touristy to me.

Lew

[Battara]

And not to mention the hilt with artistic license!

[Henk]

The dress of this keris is made after old examples. Wrangka with the winged horse and crown and the floral motivs on the gandar. Same for the ukiran.

The keris itself is what Lew said. Recently made and a rough made dapur. Just like you see with old blades reshaped in a trident. The reshape of those blades is often done with more craftmanship.

I'm afraid this is a very recent tourist thing.

[Rick]

It's a half decent Gabilan dress; might make a good home for a full size blade . :)

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, I agree that we are looking at a non-traditional form, however, based upon what I can see in these images I am of the opinion that this keris possibly dates from around the 1930's or at latest, early 1960's.

It is not very recent, as in being a part of the revival of keris culture that occurred after the late 1970's.

[asomotif]

Thanks for the comments.

The pictures don't bring out the best of the wood carving and patina.
I am quite sure it is not a recent made piece.
Maybe the newly added picture gives a better impression.

But I already feared that the blade was indeed someones western creativity with the saw.

[A. G. Maisey]

Very unlikely that the hand of western creativity dabbled in this.

A few years ago, this type of butchery was not uncommon in keris destined for the souvenir market.

[asomotif]

Thanks again.

Butchery it is indeed :shrug: