Wooden Selut

[RobT]

Has anyone seen a wooden selut on a keris before? Attached are photos of a turned wood selut (perhaps kemuning) on a rather straightforward Balinese keris with a kocet kocetan hilt made of horn. If this is a traditional, albeit uncommon treatment, should it have a mendak also? The turning is carefully and well done. Due to the loose fit I don't think the scabbard is original to the blade.
Sincerely,
RobT

[Alam Shah]

I believe it should have a mendak too. Looks nicer...
Click here for an example. Nice simple keris.

[Alam Shah]

From the current pictures, it hard to determine the wood of the warangka.
If you could have a closer shot of the warangka with the wood grain visible,
maybe I can identify it.

[nechesh]

Hi Rob,
Wooden "seluts" are not that rare, but i don't think this one belongs with this hilt. When i have seen them they usually allow for a jewelled ring to fit between it and the rest of the hilt. I have one like this, i'll see if i can get a photo up soon.
As for the mendak (uwer), i also think a keris like this looks better with. It seems a lot of Balis show up without them, but i don't believe this is by design. A mendak completes the ensemble.

[RobT]

Alam Shah,
Wranka close up coming up.
Nechesh,
I would really appreciate any photos you have.

Thanks to you both. I'm so happy that the wooden mendak is appropriate. I really like it.
Sincerely,
RobT

[Alam Shah]

IMHO, the balinese warangka gayaman is made of timoho wood (Kleinhovia Hospita). The gandar is made of timoho pelet wood.

[RobT]

Alam Shah,
Thanks for the info. I keep a brief description of all my blades and I will add those wood names to this. Another nugget of knowledge to put into my small (but growing) hoard to be applied in future blade analysis.
Sincerely,
RobT

[nechesh]

Rob, here's my Bali hilt w/a wooden "selut" (i'm sure it's called something else. Anyone?). As i stated before, the bottom and top pieces fit together so as to allow a space for the hilt ring (there is probably a name for this as well) to fit inbetween. I think yours may have belonged to such a hilt. It doesn't seem to really fit with the horn hilt you have now.

[RobT]

nechesh,
Perhaps you have supplied the complete solution. I have wondered why the kocet kocetan hilt didn't fit the selut well. I think that, with the addition of that large metal ring (uber mendak?) between the hilt and the selut, the fit will be correct and the addition of a mendak below the selut will complete the ensemble. With the picture you posted as a guide I will see what I can do to get the necessary metal fittings made up. Thanks a million. You provided the information needed to get me on the right track.
Sincerely,
RobT

[nechesh]

Hey Rob, that's the same track i followed with this hilt. I think these rings and mendaks often go missing on Bali pieces because they are often made of precious metals and at least low grade gems that people can sell off. I got this hilt without this ring, but it was obvious it had one. A cilinder from the top fit into the bottom leaving a groove for the ring to ride in. So i had this ring commissioned by our own Battara. I gave him a lot of trouble making this ring right but i'll bet he would be willing to do the same for you now that he's had a bit of practice making them.