Bali Hilt ID

David · 3rd January 2009, 11:48 PM

Funny how when you have an interest in something it just follows you everywhere you go. Was visiting my brother-in-law in South Orange, NJ for the holidays when i spotted this Bali keris literally rusting away in the front window of a curio shop. The wood of the hilt was all sun-dried and screaming for help. The maternal instinct in me kicked in and i just needed to save the poor old boy.

What i am curious about in this thread is the hilt form. It is no great work of art, but is competently carved of a nice dark ebony-like wood. Probably not that old, but not made yesterday. The figure is quite expressive IMO. He seems to have a trunk and small tusks, but he also has very human features including a nose. The ears are also a bit elephant-like, but i don't get the feeling that this is a form of Ganesha. He also carries a rice sheaf behind his back like the Nawasari form. I have seen this form before, but have not seen it IDed. It doesn't seem to me that all elephant-like beings are Ganesha, just as all monkey figures are not necessarily Hanuman.
I have given it an initial cleaning and gifted it with a new uwer and he seems a whole lot happier. Any ideas?

3rd January 2009, 11:48 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Bali Hilt ID Funny how when you have an interest in something it just follows you everywhere you go. Was visiting my brother-in-law in South Orange, NJ for the holidays when i spotted this Bali keris literally rusting away in the front window of a curio shop. The wood of the hilt was all sun-dried and screaming for help. The maternal instinct in me kicked in and i just needed to save the poor old boy. What i am curious about in this thread is the hilt form. It is no great work of art, but is competently carved of a nice dark ebony-like wood. Probably not that old, but not made yesterday. The figure is quite expressive IMO. He seems to have a trunk and small tusks, but he also has very human features including a nose. The ears are also a bit elephant-like, but i don't get the feeling that this is a form of Ganesha. He also carries a rice sheaf behind his back like the Nawasari form. I have seen this form before, but have not seen it IDed. It doesn't seem to me that all elephant-like beings are Ganesha, just as all monkey figures are not necessarily Hanuman. I have given it an initial cleaning and gifted it with a new uwer and he seems a whole lot happier. Any ideas? Attached Images