Keris Batak with strange blade?

BluErf · 26th January 2011, 11:05 PM

Interesting! How long is the blade, Michael?

Blade does look Sumatran, and it doesn't look artificially aged to me. Dress looks like Batak work to me too, though I wld say I'm also seeing a lot of newish looking Batak weapons these days with black(ened) wood sheath, silver work (including flattened "fish egg" or wire filigree work, and black rusted blades. So there could be people in the Batak region doing new work. But again, that's my doubt on the dress. The blade does not look new, unless of course the "keris factories" today have reached new heights in creating that natural aged look (hope not!!).

BluErf · 26th January 2011, 11:06 PM

Incidentally, the other blade shown here also belongs to you, Michael?

I remember it was a Sumatran keris. Minang area, if I'm not wrong.

Gustav · 27th January 2011, 01:16 AM

The thing, which I really don't understand is the joint between wrongko and gandar. This let me think of a kind of some kind of compromise or workaround: the sorts of material and the upper silver band are put together in the most peculiar possible configuration.

As I understand, the wrongko is made from horn?

kai · 27th January 2011, 08:45 AM

Very neat piece, Michael!

Could you please share dimensions?

I guess the hilt is not removable?

Thanks!

Regards,
Kai

VVV · 27th January 2011, 09:40 AM

Thanks for all comments!

Here are some more answers to your questions:
The blade is 47,5 cm (my resembling Minang that Gustav posted is 39 cm).
The reason that they are hanging next to each other at my Sumatran keris wall
is maybe why I didn't think of Lombok/Bali blades first?
The wrangka is made of horn and now when you bring it up, Gustav,
it really is a strange way of doing it? I checked the silver band but it has
never been closer to the joint.
Unfortunately the hilt isn't removable.
There has been souvenir production going on among the Batak for over
100 years old so it's always tricky with stuff from that area.
But I haven't seen that many Batak keris like mine flooding the market.
And this one, like the one in Leiden, has been in Europe for a long time
so it's not anything made up recently.

Michael

26th January 2011, 11:05 PM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Interesting! How long is the blade, Michael? Blade does look Sumatran, and it doesn't look artificially aged to me. Dress looks like Batak work to me too, though I wld say I'm also seeing a lot of newish looking Batak weapons these days with black(ened) wood sheath, silver work (including flattened "fish egg" or wire filigree work, and black rusted blades. So there could be people in the Batak region doing new work. But again, that's my doubt on the dress. The blade does not look new, unless of course the "keris factories" today have reached new heights in creating that natural aged look (hope not!!).

26th January 2011, 11:06 PM	#2
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Incidentally, the other blade shown here also belongs to you, Michael? I remember it was a Sumatran keris. Minang area, if I'm not wrong.

27th January 2011, 01:16 AM	#3
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,280	The thing, which I really don't understand is the joint between wrongko and gandar. This let me think of a kind of some kind of compromise or workaround: the sorts of material and the upper silver band are put together in the most peculiar possible configuration. As I understand, the wrongko is made from horn?

27th January 2011, 08:45 AM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Very neat piece, Michael! Could you please share dimensions? I guess the hilt is not removable? Thanks! Regards, Kai

27th January 2011, 09:40 AM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks for all comments! Here are some more answers to your questions: The blade is 47,5 cm (my resembling Minang that Gustav posted is 39 cm). The reason that they are hanging next to each other at my Sumatran keris wall is maybe why I didn't think of Lombok/Bali blades first? The wrangka is made of horn and now when you bring it up, Gustav, it really is a strange way of doing it? I checked the silver band but it has never been closer to the joint. Unfortunately the hilt isn't removable. There has been souvenir production going on among the Batak for over 100 years old so it's always tricky with stuff from that area. But I haven't seen that many Batak keris like mine flooding the market. And this one, like the one in Leiden, has been in Europe for a long time so it's not anything made up recently. Michael