Crudely Carved Hilt - Seeking Information - Buta Nawasari?

[David]

Originally Posted by ariel

But what if this is not a crude slapdash amateur thingie, but just a rough preliminary and unfinished handle?

I never imagined we would have so much to say about such a terrible little carving.
I will step out on a limb where perhaps Alan would rather not. Firstly i have seen many of these rough little "Nawa Sari" hilts, though this is possibly one of the roughest. They generally accompany Bali tourist keris, the ones that are stock reduction blades with fake pamor. So this is nothing unusual.
Secondly, if this was just a roughed out "sketch" awaiting a finishing hand, from the looks of it there would not be enough wood left to form a proper togogan hilt once the details were carved.
Lastly, at least to my eye, the wood appears to have had some finish put on it.
But even if that were the case, why would it matter. It is what it appears to be, w roughly carved figurative hilt of very little appeal or value that would not be a very respectable choice for any Bali keris.