Bitten by the Keris Bug

[kai]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

It does look like a nice blade. I'd second David's request for more pics! Close-ups are really needed to evaluate a blade and also try to narrow down the type of wood utlized.

As already indicated, it would also be necessary to define "high quality" - the highest quality was usually reserved for royalty. Even then, the highest quality for one region/sultanate might not be valued exactly the same elsewhere (and vice versa)... (Same-o with different eras, so period may also be an issue to keep in mind.)

Regards,
Kai

[F. de Luzon]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello, welcome to the forum!

It does look like a nice blade. I'd second David's request for more pics! Close-ups are really needed to evaluate a blade and also try to narrow down the type of wood utlized.

As already indicated, it would also be necessary to define "high quality" - the highest quality was usually reserved for royalty. Even then, the highest quality for one region/sultanate might not be valued exactly the same elsewhere (and vice versa)... (Same-o with different eras, so period may also be an issue to keep in mind.)

Regards,
Kai

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm beginning to understand that keris culture is highly sophisticated. I was mistaken in my choice of words for I should have stated "decent" or "acceptable" rather than "high quality." Please pardon the continuing vagueness of the terms and I hope you understand what I mean.

My intention was to purchase a keris as a souvenir but I wanted one that was of better quality than the ordinary tourist keris. I recently started an antique Moro kris collection and I wanted a keris melayu that would fit in.

I saw a wide variety when I was searching but this was most similar to the ones I saw at the Islamic Arts Museum. I am happy, based on your comments, that this appears to be of an "acceptable" standard. Your words are very reassuring.

I've also looked at many keris online and I saw some very refined examples. The ones for royalty are probably (surely) of a much higher standard than the one I got.

I find this a very interesting topic. Especially how standards vary across time and space. There's so much to learn! Thank you for your insights. I am looking forward to learning more. I will post close ups soon.

[GIO]

Definitely a nice piece. The scabbard looks very recent (normal for most keris) and the hilt is rather crudely made. But it is the blade that matters.
If it were mine I would only change the hilt. Impossible to attribute an age from a photo and very difficult on visual examination. Few experts can do that. (I don't give you the names as I would not forget somebody....)
Best wishes for a new keris-addicted.

[Marcokeris]

Originally Posted by GIO

Definitely a nice piece. The scabbard looks very recent (normal for most keris) and the hilt is rather crudely made. But it is the blade that matters.
If it were mine I would only change the hilt. Impossible to attribute an age from a photo and very difficult on visual examination. Few experts can do that. (I don't give you the names as I would not forget somebody....)
Best wishes for a new keris-addicted.

I agree

[Henk]

If this is a souvenir, you could say that this keris is certainly acceptable and decent. Well done!!
The ukiran is more Jawa Deman. A good Bugis ukiran is more the pistol hilted grip. I would try to get such an ukiran.

But it is a very nice keris suitable for every serious keris collection.

[kai]

Hello Henk,

The ukiran is more Jawa Deman. A good Bugis ukiran is more the pistol hilted grip.

The anak ayam teleng is a JD variant from the Malay East coast. I'm attaching an antique example from my collection (sorry, pre-restoration pic with hilt still turned in non-typical direction).

Note the selut which would be typical for the Terengganu region and more suitable for this hilt type.

Regards,
Kai

[David]

Originally Posted by Henk

The ukiran is more Jawa Deman. A good Bugis ukiran is more the pistol hilted grip. I would try to get such an ukiran.

This confuses me Henk. This is a Bugis form of blade, but the Peninsula. As far as i understand it the right Bugis hilt would depend upon the area of origin for this particular Bugis style blade. I have seen many Peninsula Bugis blades dressed with Jawa Deman hilts. The style of hilt you seem to be describing is more correct for Bugis blades from Sulawesi and certain areas of Sumatra as far as i know.

[Henk]

Sorry for the confusion gentlemen. The english language is not my mother language. The hilt Kai showed is the one i ment and is in my opnion more suitable for this keris.