"BATMAN" HILT - KERIS

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Here two hilts in the same style but plain, one from wood the other from horn or bone.

Yes, the plain figure is what Mr Harsrinuksma said as "Lampung" hilts which was usually used for Palembang kerises. (Picture below, of my collection)

According to Harsrinuksma's notes -- Palembang kerises were the best quality among Sumatran kerises in the past. Technically and artistically, more than Riau kerises, East Sumatran and Bangkinang.

The form of Palembang kerises, according to Harsrinuksma, was similar to the form of late Mataram in the era of Amangkurat in Jawa. Some of them, even almost similar with "keris nem-neman" (younger keris?) of Surakarta... But there were some differences, between Palembang kerises and Javanese, Maduran kerises -- the pesi was shorter and a little bigger than the Javanese...

According to his notes, there were still keris maker in Palembang in early 90-s, named Akim in Kampung 21 Ilir, Palembang. Akim was serving to make kerises for people around Palembang, and also Singapore and Johor. There was also, Anang, another Palembang keris maker who stayed in 18 Ilir Palembang in early 90-s. Both, according to Harsrinuksma's notes, were the "last" Palembang keris maker... After them, there were no more keris makers in Palembang...

His notes also mentioned, Palembang was probably the first area in Sumatra, which developped javanese keris making in this island. Thanked to the Pamalayu expedition -- (in the era of king Kertanegara of Singasari, East Jawa which had conquered the Melayu kingdom 1275 --- but of course, this must be studied further). The golden era of Palembang keris making, according to his notes, was in the era of Sultan Candilawang (1662-1706) -- (this also must be studied further, IMHO)... In the era of Sultan Candilawang, the keris culture was spread to other places in the archipelago, to west Kalimantan or Borneo, until Serawak (Malaysia now). And the other golden era of Palembang keris making, was in mid 19, in the same era (in Jawa) of king Paku Buwono VIII and IX in Surakarta and Hamengku Buwono VI and VII in Yogyakarta.

GANJAWULUNG