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Old 3rd September 2006, 05:07 AM   #11
BluErf
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Singapore
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The Bugis diaspora ended up in many parts of peninsula Malaysia and Sumatra, including Terengganu. Hence, it is not wrong to say that this is a Bugis or Bugis-influenced blade made in Terengganu. The Bugis blades made in Peninsula Malaysia tend to be 'finer' than most Sulawesi Bugis kerises, and 'sweeter', having absorbed the Malay sense of aesthetics. It may not be as macho, but it is more pleasing to the eyes.

On Peninsula Malaysia, I see 2 major forms of kerises - the Javanese-influenced forms and the Bugis influenced-forms. The more south you go, the more predominant the Bugis-influenced forms. The more north you go, we see greater presence of Javanese-influenced forms. Apart from this common Bugis Sepokal form, there is the carita and melela forms which excel in terms of the refinedness of the dapur and perabots.

Keris melela from Terengganu:
http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php

Keris Unduk-unduk from Terengganu
http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_photo.php

1st pic - Dave Henkel's keris melela

2nd and 3rd pic - Dave Henkel's keris carita
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Last edited by BluErf; 3rd September 2006 at 01:17 PM. Reason: bad sentence structure
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