Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

VVV · 13th September 2006, 09:05 PM

Drdavid and David,

From the sources I have read it seems as if the typical characteristics of a Banjarmasin Keris is the dress (hilt and sheath).

The older blades were usually imported, mostly from Central Java. After Islam was introduced Bugis and Malay influence increased.
But a few of the blades were also locally produced in the style of the other regions.

The reason diamonds are used in abundance was because they were found in large amounts in the nearby Matapura. So probably they were relatively cheap? Usually they are not of a very high quality.
Also it's quite common that the Mendak is integrated in the hilt. The no 2, Garuda, example was the most popular one of the diamond and gold hilts.

The sheaths comes in several variations but the typical Banjarmasin sheath is the chubby Gayaman version that's smaller than the Javanese versions. A bit like a cross of the Gayaman and the crescent-shaped Sumatran/Malay Wrangka (Tangala/Sabit Bulan).
Like Gayo Keris it seems as if there was a lot of individual taste in the orders of the dress. That's why I was curious to see other Banjarmasin Keris on this thread.

Obviously Banjarmasin was a prosperous outpost because of the natural resources and the trading. So those that made a fortune there developed their own local hilt fashion that would have made even Liberace RIP happy.

Michael

13th September 2006, 09:05 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Drdavid and David, From the sources I have read it seems as if the typical characteristics of a Banjarmasin Keris is the dress (hilt and sheath). The older blades were usually imported, mostly from Central Java. After Islam was introduced Bugis and Malay influence increased. But a few of the blades were also locally produced in the style of the other regions. The reason diamonds are used in abundance was because they were found in large amounts in the nearby Matapura. So probably they were relatively cheap? Usually they are not of a very high quality. Also it's quite common that the Mendak is integrated in the hilt. The no 2, Garuda, example was the most popular one of the diamond and gold hilts. The sheaths comes in several variations but the typical Banjarmasin sheath is the chubby Gayaman version that's smaller than the Javanese versions. A bit like a cross of the Gayaman and the crescent-shaped Sumatran/Malay Wrangka (Tangala/Sabit Bulan). Like Gayo Keris it seems as if there was a lot of individual taste in the orders of the dress. That's why I was curious to see other Banjarmasin Keris on this thread. Obviously Banjarmasin was a prosperous outpost because of the natural resources and the trading. So those that made a fortune there developed their own local hilt fashion that would have made even Liberace RIP happy. Michael Last edited by VVV; 14th September 2006 at 08:23 AM. Reason: translation error