Palembang Keris

[Pendita65]

I like to share two pictures of the keris that i won tonight in an auction and will pick it up end of this week.

It was stated Indonesian Keris but the dress is Palembang, and the ukiran is imho Madura

So the blade is in need of a washing, is the blade Madura too? Or is this a mariage ?

Hope to hear from the experts.

Regards, Martin

[JustYS]

Hi Pendita,


I am not knowledgeable enough to answer your questions, but I have a general question regarding Palembang classification (either for the dress or the blade) what is the reference point (in terms of era and style)? Is it Sriwijaya Kingdom (671-1025)?

Cheers,

[Pendita65]

Originally Posted by JustYS

Hi Pendita,


I am not knowledgeable enough to answer your questions, but I have a general question regarding Palembang classification (either for the dress or the blade) what is the reference point (in terms of era and style)? Is it Sriwijaya Kingdom (671-1025)?

Cheers,

Hi JustYS,

I am also not knowledgeable enough and will read the link you shared about the Sriwiyaya Kingdom.

Thanks and regards, Martin

[Pendita65]

So I am in the train back home after picking up the Keris. And could not resist to share two pictures of the fitting of the Keris and the last remains of the Kinatah.

I think the fit is beautiful.

Regards, Martin

[David]

It seems very likely indeed that this Palembang style sheath was indeed made for this blade. As for the hilt, it could have been a later addition given it's North Coast origin, but since the selut is clearly a Sumatran style i would be inclined to think that this ensemble is a legitmate Sumatran one rather than a dealer marriage. Have you determined the material of the selut yet. Could be silver. Seems you got yourself a fairly nice Sumatran keris there with a nice Ganesha hilt. Shame the kinatah is gone, but not the worst thing. Congratulations!

[Pendita65]

Hi David,

Thank you for your comment. And yes it is silver I allready cleaned it, but I would like to know how to de rust this Keris, I am not sure if the vinegar or citric acid method would be the best method. So hope to hear from the experts.

Regards, Martin

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pendita65

I like to share two pictures of the keris that i won tonight in an auction and will pick it up end of this week.

It was stated Indonesian Keris but the dress is Palembang, and the ukiran is imho Madura

So the blade is in need of a washing, is the blade Madura too? Or is this a mariage ?

Hope to hear from the experts.

Hi Martin,

Now I know who bid me out! The blade is Palembang too IMO. When you look close you will see that on top of the gonjo and the gandik area had once kinatah. The hilt is North-East coast of Java, not typically Madura.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

The kinatah work will have looked like this.

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, I agree that the hilt is North coast Jawa, & tending towards the east, however, the selut is typically Palembang.

Historically there have been very close ties between Jawa & Palembang. Palembang Keris blade style follows Javanese style very closely, & frankly, I cannot tell from a photo the difference between a blade that might be Palembang, or that might be Jawa or Madura. I would need to handle it & even then I might not be certain.

This keris could be a marriage, but then we need to consider the historical ties and the fact that it is in a Palembang wrongko. Maybe it is not a marriage. If it were mine I'd leave as is. Lots of mix & match examples of keris exist that are true to the area from which they come, not put together somewhere else.

There is something else too. In recent years current era Indonesian collectors & dealers have been trying to promote the recognition of a "tangguh Palembang". In my opinion this is a total impossibility, for the very simple reason that there is no uniquely Palembang blade. A genuine keris Palembang, in the sense of a keris put together in Palembang for wear in Palembang can have a variety of different blades used, including Bugis, Javanese, Peninsula & still be the real deal. The old Javanese tangguh system does not recognise a tangguh Palembang.

Nice keris.

[JustYS]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

There is something else too. In recent years current era Indonesian collectors & dealers have been trying to promote the recognition of a "tangguh Palembang". In my opinion this is a total impossibility, for the very simple reason that there is no uniquely Palembang blade. A genuine keris Palembang, in the sense of a keris put together in Palembang for wear in Palembang can have a variety of different blades used, including Bugis, Javanese, Peninsula & still be the real deal. The old Javanese tangguh system does not recognise a tangguh Palembang.

Nice keris.

Thank you for the explanation Alan

[Pendita65]

Hello Mr. Maisey,

Thank you for your message, and last weekend I allready read your thoughts about the so called Tanguh Palembang and your view about it. It’s interesting to read and I have to learn more about the Keris. Most of the time I buy them on instinct. And I investigate them through books, but on the forum I find so much knowledge that at certain times I know nothing only my gutt feeling and my trained eye for craftsmanship. I am allready at a point that I will not buy any Keris that I didn’t handled on viewing days as I also bought ones that are to worn out or 13 in a dozen Keris.

I am now on my way by train to pick up
The Palembang dressed Keris. When home I will take some more images to share.

Have a nice day and regards,

Martin