Here are a few more Bali handles.

Not in quite the same class as some of the others that have been presented, but nice handles, just the same.

http://kerisattosanaji.com/Baligoldhandle.html

David : Noe's hilt is wonderfull: a superb work.
Alan: uli emas, hijau .. are different kinds of coral (i hope that the dictions are proper). Now from the other picture the quality of hit's work seems better.

Thanks for your explanation Marco. "uli" is Balinese? So, this would be the same as "akar", or "root" ? So you are talking about the the talismanic coral roots that are used in Bali ? Is this correct?

Yes, I changed the original photos I had up. The original photos were scans of ten year old negatives, the new photos were done last weekend. There is no doubt that the work in this gold handle is superb. I have a collection of something over 1000 keris hilts, and I have seen and handled many more than this, and in my opinion this gold handle is the best I have ever personally handled, or seen. I am not including hilts of which I have seen photographs, as a photo can often fail to tell the whole story. Moreover, as I have already said, three other people who are regarded as authorities in Asian art, two of whom have an international reputation, have appraised this hilt as one of the finest in existence.If the quality is not obvious to you, then we must hold my inadequate skills with the camera at fault.

Hi Alan
can you give an explanation of the symbolism of the small face on the back of the head on this gold Bali handle. It looks a little like a monkey's features.
regards
DrD

I could, but I would prefer not to.

I do not know sufficient about the Balinese culture to be able to give a supportable interpretation of this feature in terms that would be comprehensible to us, and acceptable to the relevant culture at the time when this handle was made.

David, when we wish to involve ourselves in the interpretation of symbols that belong to a time and a culture other than our own, we are treading on very, very dangerous ground. To truly understand these things we need to be able to see them and understand them from the perspective of a Balinese royal personage of more than 100 years ago.To do other than this is simply to place a name-- which may or may not be correct in the relevant context --- on something which we have no hope of understanding. At best, this can cause us to appear naive.

Well, i think Alan's words are wise and i wouldn't dare to make an interpretation, but isn't the character Garuda?
Here's a nice ivory hilt. :)

Where are you sourcing these pretty pics from, David?

These were all part of a collection that was up for auction a while back.

Thanks.

David, if that is a weapon in his hand, I am thinking this is Ravana, the demon king in the Ramayana.

Very well may be Jose. those are the best pics i have.
Here is another one from the same collection. :)
Ah, if i were a rich man.... ;)

Of course, if one weren't feeling quite so wealthy they might go for something in "simple" silver. ;) :)

Ok here is something I would llike to know - the relationship of the different materials and cast (gold - royal, ivory - ?, silver - ?). :confused: