Keris Hilt: A Kemo Kerdas/Bugis Hilt (Help Needed)

rasdan · 30th March 2005, 05:26 AM

Hi guys,

I just acquired a bugis kerdas kemoh hilt. Will post the pictures tomorow. Looks old and I had already cleaned it. Do u think polishing the hilt is a good move? I read that Blu mentioned that newly made kemo hilts are highly polished. How to determine the age? Does the unusual shape of this kemo is a sign that it is recently made? Anybody had ever seen a kerdas kemo? I'm quite puzzled now. Help please..

Sakhti777 · 30th March 2005, 08:28 AM

I have never witnessed any kerdas kemo hilt ever since my long pursuance of this form 10 yrs ago but your finding is sure something alarming. Do not confuse with kerdas bone hilts. It doesnt matter, old or newly made because owning kemo as hilt form is damn lucky. Nobody would want to do it for you, longer time taken and too complex doing it. I am a great collector of this hilt, presently owning 3 jawa demam kemos. I even tried to make one out my giant kemo but honestly speaking, it needs real patience and skill. Cutting is a problem, shaping is another. Hard but breakable. As far as I know, Kemo hilts existed as early as 1700s, nearby sea surrounding countries esp. Sulawesi, Patani,Trengganu. The only disadvantage is that it looks horrible without polishing it. How sure yours is kemo? Bone?

put up pictures.

rasdan · 30th March 2005, 08:51 AM

Thanks Sakhti, so, do i need to polish it? Does others agree?

Sakhti777 · 30th March 2005, 10:48 AM

Rasdan, if yours is kemo, soak it lime juice and clean wash and try waxing it and see the effect, otherwise let it be in original state. it will look dull though

. To some people, kemo has element of medicinal energy too and other fortune or good luck mystical properties.

Alam Shah · 30th March 2005, 10:57 AM

Rasdan, where's the piece?... you can post the 'before' first...
I

nechesh · 30th March 2005, 11:44 AM

Hi Rasdan. Is this the hilt that MyKeris sold in the swap forum?

mykeris · 30th March 2005, 01:38 PM

Nechesh, the clam hilt that I posted in the swap forum was a large Pekaka motif, as according to Paul (message). I suppose, Rasdan`s hilt will be a different one.

30th March 2005, 05:26 AM	#1
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 368	Keris Hilt: A Kemo Kerdas/Bugis Hilt (Help Needed) Hi guys, I just acquired a bugis kerdas kemoh hilt. Will post the pictures tomorow. Looks old and I had already cleaned it. Do u think polishing the hilt is a good move? I read that Blu mentioned that newly made kemo hilts are highly polished. How to determine the age? Does the unusual shape of this kemo is a sign that it is recently made? Anybody had ever seen a kerdas kemo? I'm quite puzzled now. Help please..

30th March 2005, 10:57 AM	#5
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Rasdan, where's the piece?... you can post the 'before' first... I Last edited by Alam Shah; 31st March 2005 at 02:12 AM.

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30th March 2005, 08:28 AM	#2
Sakhti777 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Penang Posts: 14	I have never witnessed any kerdas kemo hilt ever since my long pursuance of this form 10 yrs ago but your finding is sure something alarming. Do not confuse with kerdas bone hilts. It doesnt matter, old or newly made because owning kemo as hilt form is damn lucky. Nobody would want to do it for you, longer time taken and too complex doing it. I am a great collector of this hilt, presently owning 3 jawa demam kemos. I even tried to make one out my giant kemo but honestly speaking, it needs real patience and skill. Cutting is a problem, shaping is another. Hard but breakable. As far as I know, Kemo hilts existed as early as 1700s, nearby sea surrounding countries esp. Sulawesi, Patani,Trengganu. The only disadvantage is that it looks horrible without polishing it. How sure yours is kemo? Bone? put up pictures.

30th March 2005, 08:51 AM	#3
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 368	Thanks Sakhti, so, do i need to polish it? Does others agree?

30th March 2005, 10:48 AM	#4
Sakhti777 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Penang Posts: 14	Rasdan, if yours is kemo, soak it lime juice and clean wash and try waxing it and see the effect, otherwise let it be in original state. it will look dull though . To some people, kemo has element of medicinal energy too and other fortune or good luck mystical properties.

30th March 2005, 11:44 AM	#6
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hi Rasdan. Is this the hilt that MyKeris sold in the swap forum?

30th March 2005, 01:38 PM	#7
mykeris Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 278	Nechesh, the clam hilt that I posted in the swap forum was a large Pekaka motif, as according to Paul (message). I suppose, Rasdan`s hilt will be a different one.