Palembang handle and selut
 

Dear all,

I have had the opportunity to purchase this small handsome Jawa Demam Palembang ukiran from ivory. This delicately shaped handle shows organic, roundings and 'true' birds eyes.
What puzzles me is the 'akik' stone on top of the head. It is encrusted in silver but not meant as a cover-up for a damaged peksi hole ( which has happened but more below). But I can't exclude another damage for which this application with semi-precious stones is done? Any explanation for it or just for decoration?
The selut did not come along but I have put them together which might not be matching but where does it come from?

Dear Klungkung,

Old and nice carving of old Sumatran keris hilt. But the possibility is not Palembang, but perhaps between West Sumatra or Riau, Jambi. The material is elephant ivory, or "sea ivory"?

I have some examples of Sumatran Jawa Demam hilt. Palembang "pendokok" is very typical Palembang. Here are examples of my Palembang keris hilt. One made of old ivory, and the other is wooden hilt.

Ganjawulung

Here a "cousin" of it - I also doubt, these quite small hilts would come directly from Palembang. My guess was the "upper class" of a Minang population close to Palembang.

Dear Klungkung,

your very nice handle could be Palembang or Minangkabau and maybe also Jambi. The stone is most proable a jimat but I think that the stone cover the natural nerv crevise of the material which I guess to be sperm whale tooth.
Look for example this hilt from my collection where you can see this "nerv crevise" uncovered.

Regards,
Detlef

PS: Forget: The pendokok is IMHO a Minangkabau pendokok.

Palembang
 

Hopefully, my understanding is not wrong. To my knowledge, style of Palembang carving, its "cukitan" (I don't know the Palembang term of "cukitan", I use common terminology in keris) was not too deep. But fine. Even very subtle. In contrast to Madura, which its cukitan is usually deep. Just possibly, the equipment used to carve different. They use different types of knives. Also Java carving, usually deeper carved than Palembang...

Ganjawulung

Pak Ganja,
Is this small hilt with a fine & superficial carving but in a different style originating from Palembang in your opinion?
Best regards :)

Hello Carla,

I'm sure it's not an original decoration. If (smaller) stones are inserted, these don't break the flow of lines. There are a few bits of the carving broken off a long time ago and I guess that this later addition is to cover more extensive damage to the top of the hilt.

I'm with the others that this is a Minang hilt with quite typical carving work. This type of hilt often comes with a cup-shaped selut and slender stem. Your Minang selut might also do for the time being.

Regards,
Kai

Hello Jean,

How large is this hilt?

The selut is Minang. The hilt doesn't look like Palembang to me.

Actually, I feel that the Palembang carving is pretty deep, especially if you consider the very narrow crevices cut into the material. I believe Ganja was referring to the kinda 2-dimensional appearance of the "crowded" Palembang carving while the Minang carving gives a more 3-dimensional effect due to more material being cut away between the floral and other elements. Also the overall shape tends to be more rigid/blocky in Palembang JD hilts while Minang and others show more rounded shapes.

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,
This hilt is very small (6 cm high). I agree that this piece is probably not from Palembang but from where then? The selut was not original to the piece.
Thank you and regards
Jean

Hi guys!

I'm late to the table here - found the topic while going through the Palembang-posts of the forum. IMO Detlef is probably spot-on: The insert has been done to cover up the natural pulp cavity of the tooth. I have a Madurese "Donoriko" hilt from sperm whale in my collection, with the tooth mounted upside down, so that the cavity is sutuated right at the crown of the hilt. To accomodate this, a seperate piece has been carved with okir and set into the cavity with small ivory pins.

I think this was done, because keris hilts typically are wider at the top and the tooth of course wider at the base.

Detlef, I would say that your's is probably carved from hippopotamus tusk: The pulp cavity in sperm whale teeth is, in my experience, "always" lenticular in shape. Your's is half-moon shaped, like that of hippo tusk and it seems in your last picture, that the TIZ continues over the figure's left ear and down his shoulder?

Great pieces both of them btw!!


Best wishes, - Thor

Hello Thor,

thank you for confirming my guess! :) Frankly said I was a little bit surprised that nobody before took it in consideration that this will be the reason. :shrug:
Thank you also for the hint that the material of my hilt could be from hippotamus ivory, good observation! ;)

Best regards,
Detlef

Coming the party late as well, I was thinking of the stones on top. I agree probably covering for the hippo core hole, I noticed that they are "milky" quartz. This is common in Indonesia, but would there also be a talismanic or spiritual meaning behind the use of this type of stone?

I do not know the answer to this question, however, I have a finger ring that is set with white chalcedony.

According to several Balinese people this white stone is protection against danger.

In Jawa turquoise has the talismanic value of distancing one from danger.

Jade will protect against broken bones if you happen to fall.

Agates have varying talismanic qualities depending on the type of agate and the natural motif.

I think it is a fair bet that certain precious and semi-precious stones have talismanic and spiritual properties in just about ANY culture around the world so i would image that some thought is always put into it when they are employed in such a manner. :shrug: