Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

A. G. Maisey · 27th May 2010, 11:41 PM

I'm out of my depth here, because I have very little knowledge of the development of the Philippine style of keris.

However, considered upon a logical basis I would suggest that in early keris the hilt was purely functional, and the status of its owner was not attached to outward appearance of his keris.

Do we know that there was a switch from blade to hilt as a status indicator?

Or are we assuming this because early keris have what we would consider to be high quality blades with ordinary hilts, and the reverse is true with later keris?

Possibly the keris as an active status indicator may not have been in place in earlier years.

Possibly the use of the keris as a status indicator was something that developed over time.

I have a keris that although not Philippine is related in appearance to the Philippine keris. It is a keris which served as the state execution keris of Brunei dating from 1842. In other words, it is a state keris. The dress of this keris is very plain, the hilt is simply wound with red cord and has silver ferrule.

This is suggestion only, and a supportable answer to the question could only be provided by an in depth study of the subject.

27th May 2010, 11:41 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,705	I'm out of my depth here, because I have very little knowledge of the development of the Philippine style of keris. However, considered upon a logical basis I would suggest that in early keris the hilt was purely functional, and the status of its owner was not attached to outward appearance of his keris. Do we know that there was a switch from blade to hilt as a status indicator? Or are we assuming this because early keris have what we would consider to be high quality blades with ordinary hilts, and the reverse is true with later keris? Possibly the keris as an active status indicator may not have been in place in earlier years. Possibly the use of the keris as a status indicator was something that developed over time. I have a keris that although not Philippine is related in appearance to the Philippine keris. It is a keris which served as the state execution keris of Brunei dating from 1842. In other words, it is a state keris. The dress of this keris is very plain, the hilt is simply wound with red cord and has silver ferrule. This is suggestion only, and a supportable answer to the question could only be provided by an in depth study of the subject.