BANJARMASIN KERIS, unfortunately not mine

[asomotif]

I think the wrangka is Buffalohorn.
Not as special as rhino, but still quite a large peice of buffalohorn.
It must have accounted for certain status.


Here some more pictures.
The blade is not cleaned and not photographed in a good way.
But it gives an impression.

[Jean]

Hello Willem,
The sheath crosspiece made from carved horn is very nice indeed but besides the hilt, what makes it a Banjarmasin kris?
Best regards
Jean

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Jean

but besides the hilt, what makes it a Banjarmasin kris?

Hello Jean,
There is not very much information around, but as far as I know the blades are always import blades. So there is not a "Banjarmasin" style of blades.

So I call it Banjarmasin when the hilt is banjarmasin.
From pictures in other threads I found that often the wrangka is quite simple and sometimes almost symetric in design.
Further, the examples I found with pendok's all have very simple brass plain pendoks.

This wrangka has a floral decoration something which is found more often in the Banjarmasin area due to muslim influence. It is also known from Negara weapons. such as parang nabur;s and the scarce negara mandau's.

If someone has more and/or different info on this I would surely like to hear it.

Best regards,
Willem

[Jean]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Hello Jean,
There is not very much information around, but as far as I know the blades are always import blades. So there is not a "Banjarmasin" style of blades.

So I call it Banjarmasin when the hilt is banjarmasin.
From pictures in other threads I found that often the wrangka is quite simple and sometimes almost symetric in design.
Further, the examples I found with pendok's all have very simple brass plain pendoks.

This wrangka has a floral decoration something which is found more often in the Banjarmasin area due to muslim influence. It is also known from Negara weapons. such as parang nabur;s and the scarce negara mandau's.

If someone has more and/or different info on this I would surely like to hear it.

Best regards,
Willem

Hello Willem,
I agree that there is very little information about the Banjarmasin krisses.
According to Van Duuren's book "The Kris" page 82, many kris blades were forged in Negara during the 19th Century so not all the blades were imported.
Regarding the warangka crosspiece, most of them have a special kidney shape as shown in Frey's book page 72 for instance and other reference books. I never saw a crosspiece shaped like the one on your pictures but I would rather attribute its origin to East Java/ Madura.
Would you attribute my kris to Banjarmasin also since it has a Banjar hilt?
Best regards
Jean

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Jean

Would you attribute my kris to Banjarmasin also since it has a Banjar hilt?
Best regards
Jean

Dear Jean,
Do you have better pictures of the hilt.

Best regards,
Willem

[VVV]

I am with Jean on this. You see Banjar hilts quite often on keris in other regions too.

Michael

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by VVV

I am with Jean on this. You see Banjar hilts quite often on keris in other regions too.

Michael

Michael,
- Do you mean ïn other regions" or from other regions ?

- as for the wrangka. the floral decoration on this type wrangka is new to me.
Is this something you see on east java / madura keris ?
if so, please post some examples

best regards,
Willem

[Jean]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Dear Jean,
Do you have better pictures of the hilt.

Best regards,
Willem

Dear Willem,
Attached are additional pictures of my hilt. I believe that it is original but in exceptional condition so may be not very old, the missing stones visible on the pictures were replaced.
Best regards
Jean

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Jean

I believe that it is original but in exceptional condition so may be not very old, the missing stones visible on the pictures were replaced.
Best regards
Jean

Interesting hilt.
The technique / workmanship looks very authenthic to me.
Could it be that it was re-gilded ? Do you have any provenance ?

Best regards,
Willem