Moro or Kalimantan ?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

Could it be a smith who migrated to these area, from Sulu or Mindanao? In the Asian Civilisation Museum, Singapore, there is a sundang which is attributed to Brunei. It is of fine worksmanship as well.

Yes, a smith who's ancestors may have been Madurese .

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Rick

Yes, a smith who's ancestors may have been Madurese .

How's that, Rick?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

How's that, Rick?

Shahrial,
Don't you think that Madurese and Javanese smiths and their far flung descendants have spread pamor and smithing techniques and influences throughout the world of the keris/kris over the centuries ?

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Rick

... Don't you think that Madurese and Javanese smiths and their far flung descendants have spread pamor and smithing techniques and influences throughout the world of the keris/kris over the centuries ?

Ah... yes... I believe they do. But you only mentioned Maduranese... hence the ? Need to research more on Brunei keris/kris.

There is a book "Keris : peranannya dalam masyarakat Melayu Brunei".
(Translated = Keris: its role in the Brunei Malay community.)
Author: Haji Hashim B. Haji Mohd Noor.
Publisher: Berakas, Negara Brunei Darussalam : Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, 2004.

Comments: It's a research article on the Brunei keris, written in Malay. There are pictures of keris with Brunei influence, brunei styles, local terms used, materials and interviews with the 'pandai besi' and kerismakers.

[VVV]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

Comments: It's a research article on the Brunei keris, written in Malay. There are pictures of keris with Brunei influence, brunei styles, local terms used, materials and interviews with the 'pandai besi' and kerismakers.

Interesting,

Is it only keris or do they also have examples of kris that differs from those of other regions?
If so, could you share any of the pictures?

Michael

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by VVV

... Is it only keris or do they also have examples of kris that differs from those of other regions? If so, could you share any of the pictures?...

I don't have pictures of it, as I do not own a copy of the book. I've read it in the library's reference section, but unfortunately not available for
borrowing, hence I cannot make a copy.
I'll check it out and let you know when I can.

[paolo]

I'haven't Your knowlege about keris, and I didn't read most of the books You mentioned, but on page 16 of the Van Zonneveld book (traditional weapons of the Indonesian archipelago) there's a pic of a Kalimantan keris, acquired in 1893, that looks very interesting to me.
Regards
Paolo

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Rick

Yes, a smith who's ancestors may have been Madurese .

I think everyone visited Brunei. "a Sketch of the History of Brunei" by Hughes-Hallett admits the history is lacking considering it was once a important trade center and powerful kingdom. Chinese coins dating to 600 BC were found in the mouth of the Sarawak river. Oral tradition says royal families had both Chinese and Javanese blood. Early westerners were surprised at the amount of Chinese, Arab and Bugis. Certainly after 1669 the "Bugis Diaspora" had large Bugis migration. Also in the 17thC, the Sultan of Sulu was involved in a Brunei civil war and was awarded large territories in North Borneo.