Keris--Looking for info--its from 6/13/1758

DAHenkel · 31st December 2004, 01:41 AM

Interesting keris mrgee. First off, given the style and quality of the workmanship I feel its very unlikely that this came from the Surakarta kraton. The quality is more on the rough side and given the provenance its likely this is a late 19th or early 20th century example of a "tourist" keris. By tourist, I mean made for sale to Western collectors and visitors. The "date" on the sheath is likely an attempt to trick the unsuspecting visitor. The fact is though that a keris made in 1759 in Yogyakarta would have almost certainly have been inscribed in kawi script, and with a traditional date rather than a Gregorian one.

The blade on this keris appears to have been an older blade that was re-worked. That is, the blade was not originally a naga blade, but has had the naga carved into it subsequently. Notice that the body and head of the naga are "flat" and do not stick out from the overall shape of the blade.

The hilt is in a Madura style and looks to have been made from some sort of horn or bone. I doubt very much that it is ivory. The rest of the keris appears more in the style of Yogyakarta. The sheath is unusual and it appears that it may have originally been a ladrangan form that has been re-worked - probably to disguise a break. The oversheath or pendok is also in the Yogya form.

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31st December 2004, 01:41 AM	#2
DAHenkel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 125	Interesting keris mrgee. First off, given the style and quality of the workmanship I feel its very unlikely that this came from the Surakarta kraton. The quality is more on the rough side and given the provenance its likely this is a late 19th or early 20th century example of a "tourist" keris. By tourist, I mean made for sale to Western collectors and visitors. The "date" on the sheath is likely an attempt to trick the unsuspecting visitor. The fact is though that a keris made in 1759 in Yogyakarta would have almost certainly have been inscribed in kawi script, and with a traditional date rather than a Gregorian one. The blade on this keris appears to have been an older blade that was re-worked. That is, the blade was not originally a naga blade, but has had the naga carved into it subsequently. Notice that the body and head of the naga are "flat" and do not stick out from the overall shape of the blade. The hilt is in a Madura style and looks to have been made from some sort of horn or bone. I doubt very much that it is ivory. The rest of the keris appears more in the style of Yogyakarta. The sheath is unusual and it appears that it may have originally been a ladrangan form that has been re-worked - probably to disguise a break. The oversheath or pendok is also in the Yogya form.