A Balinese Keris for Analysis

A. G. Maisey · 21st September 2020, 01:10 PM

Blade:- Bali

Scabbard:- Bali, 20th century dancer's dress

Selut:- Bali

Hilt:- East Jawa

not bad individual component parts, but wrongly combined.

CharlesS · 21st September 2020, 01:34 PM

Alan, the hilt is far too large for any Javanese keris.

David · 21st September 2020, 04:50 PM

Hi Charles. This is a lovely Balinese keris.
On the sarung, does it appear that it was made for this blade specifically. Certainly it was made for a blade with gonjo wilut so it seems possible. I have not seen many dance keris sheath made for gonjo wilut, but if this sheath was made specifically for this keris than i can't see calling it a mismatch.
As for the hilt, i have a Bali keris that was once in the Frey collection that has a somewhat similar hilt. It too has led to some head scratching, but since this keris has been known to exist in this form since at least the early 1970s it is not some mismatched dealer special. It is, like yours, certainly an unusual hilt for a Bali keris though. So i am not going to dismiss you example as a mismatch too quickly, especially if, as you say, this hilt is too large for the usual Javanese/Madurese blade.

CharlesS · 21st September 2020, 05:19 PM

Thanks David. The blade and sheath are a perfect fit, with the mouth of the sheath following the curvature of the ganja. The hilt is maybe like an E. Java keris hilt on steroids, but particularly its girth would not match a Javanese hilt, much like the example you have shown. It would simply overwhelm and take the balance out of the aesthetics of a Javanese ensemble.

CharlesS · 21st September 2020, 05:21 PM

I think my pics just do not properly convey the size of the hilt. Its selut is a perfect fit.

These pics may help show the comparative size of the hilt, but I am not even sure these pics do the dimensions justice.

Jean · 21st September 2020, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Alan, the hilt is far too large for any Javanese keris.

Hello Charles,
The hilt looks large because of the wrong balinese selut fitted to it but this type is originating from East Java/ Madura indeed.
Regards

Anthony G. · 21st September 2020, 05:22 PM

I would said this keris is awesome except the warangka (personal opinion). I would love to own this keris with a beautiful polished bilah.

Jean · 21st September 2020, 05:24 PM

Hello Charles,
Attached is a Madurese kris estimated from the early 20th century with a somewhat similar type of thick hilt.
Regards

CharlesS · 21st September 2020, 05:38 PM

Thanks Jean. Yes a similar( and lovely) hilt, but the size is much smaller than on that Balinese keris. It's easy to tell by the way it sits on the mendek.

Jean · 21st September 2020, 05:57 PM

Hi Charles,
Pics of a Madurese hilt more similar to yours, its height is 10 cm. The balinese selut is definitely misplaced IMO. From my experience these pieces are relatively recent (mid 20th century).
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 21st September 2020, 10:17 PM

Charles, I suggest that you remove the hilt from the keris.

I believe that you will find that this hilt is sitting on top of the selut, not fitted to the selut.

Any selut is effectively a ferrule, it is supposed to fit around the base of the hilt, and was originally used to prevent the hilt splitting. On the keris under discussion I believe you will find that the hilt simply sits on top of the selut.

The hilt itself is an East Javanese style, it can also be found in Madura, and Madura itself is a part of East Jawa, and it can be found along the North Coast of Jawa, but only a small distance to the west of Surabaya, whereas it can be found anywhere east of Surabaya. There can be no question at all that this is an East Javanese hilt.

We can forget about the size of the hilt being any sort of indicator, size is totally irrelevant in this context.

There is at least one hypothetical, but I will not address that until after the hilt has been removed from the keris.

CharlesS · 22nd September 2020, 12:36 AM

The hilt is, indeed, sitting centered on the selut. So, you guys’ observations of it not being properly set seem to be correct. If I wanted to get a new hilt for the good blade, what kind of hilt should I get that would most correctly go with the scabbard???

21st September 2020, 04:50 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Hi Charles. This is a lovely Balinese keris. On the sarung, does it appear that it was made for this blade specifically. Certainly it was made for a blade with gonjo wilut so it seems possible. I have not seen many dance keris sheath made for gonjo wilut, but if this sheath was made specifically for this keris than i can't see calling it a mismatch. As for the hilt, i have a Bali keris that was once in the Frey collection that has a somewhat similar hilt. It too has led to some head scratching, but since this keris has been known to exist in this form since at least the early 1970s it is not some mismatched dealer special. It is, like yours, certainly an unusual hilt for a Bali keris though. So i am not going to dismiss you example as a mismatch too quickly, especially if, as you say, this hilt is too large for the usual Javanese/Madurese blade. Attached Images

21st September 2020, 05:21 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	I think my pics just do not properly convey the size of the hilt. Its selut is a perfect fit. These pics may help show the comparative size of the hilt, but I am not even sure these pics do the dimensions justice. Attached Images

21st September 2020, 05:24 PM	#8
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Hello Charles, Attached is a Madurese kris estimated from the early 20th century with a somewhat similar type of thick hilt. Regards Attached Images

21st September 2020, 05:57 PM	#10
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Hi Charles, Pics of a Madurese hilt more similar to yours, its height is 10 cm. The balinese selut is definitely misplaced IMO. From my experience these pieces are relatively recent (mid 20th century). Regards Attached Images Last edited by Jean; 21st September 2020 at 07:58 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

21st September 2020, 01:10 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Blade:- Bali Scabbard:- Bali, 20th century dancer's dress Selut:- Bali Hilt:- East Jawa not bad individual component parts, but wrongly combined.

21st September 2020, 01:34 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Alan, the hilt is far too large for any Javanese keris.

21st September 2020, 05:19 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Thanks David. The blade and sheath are a perfect fit, with the mouth of the sheath following the curvature of the ganja. The hilt is maybe like an E. Java keris hilt on steroids, but particularly its girth would not match a Javanese hilt, much like the example you have shown. It would simply overwhelm and take the balance out of the aesthetics of a Javanese ensemble.

21st September 2020, 05:22 PM	#7
Anthony G. Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 470	I would said this keris is awesome except the warangka (personal opinion). I would love to own this keris with a beautiful polished bilah.

21st September 2020, 05:38 PM	#9
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Thanks Jean. Yes a similar( and lovely) hilt, but the size is much smaller than on that Balinese keris. It's easy to tell by the way it sits on the mendek.

21st September 2020, 10:17 PM	#11
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Charles, I suggest that you remove the hilt from the keris. I believe that you will find that this hilt is sitting on top of the selut, not fitted to the selut. Any selut is effectively a ferrule, it is supposed to fit around the base of the hilt, and was originally used to prevent the hilt splitting. On the keris under discussion I believe you will find that the hilt simply sits on top of the selut. The hilt itself is an East Javanese style, it can also be found in Madura, and Madura itself is a part of East Jawa, and it can be found along the North Coast of Jawa, but only a small distance to the west of Surabaya, whereas it can be found anywhere east of Surabaya. There can be no question at all that this is an East Javanese hilt. We can forget about the size of the hilt being any sort of indicator, size is totally irrelevant in this context. There is at least one hypothetical, but I will not address that until after the hilt has been removed from the keris.

22nd September 2020, 12:36 AM	#12
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	The hilt is, indeed, sitting centered on the selut. So, you guys’ observations of it not being properly set seem to be correct. If I wanted to get a new hilt for the good blade, what kind of hilt should I get that would most correctly go with the scabbard???