Mendak

David · 26th September 2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Danny,

I have one of its cousins with a resembling mendak that just slightly covers more of the hilt.

Michael

I would say that unlike Danny's mendak, which looks to have been made to fit the flat bottom surface of a typical planar style Javanese hilt, your mendak seems to have been made to fit the curved contour of this bondalan form.

Gustav · 26th September 2011, 10:11 PM

Danny, what is the diameter of this mendak?

A. G. Maisey · 27th September 2011, 05:17 AM

Danny, I know this style of mendak, and class of workmanship, as Madura, village work.

The dress I think I would probably give as Sumenep, Bali --- good story goes with this, but I'm pressed for time, and I think I might have already told the yarn anyway.

The distinction between Sumenep - Bali and Bali - Bali is very fine as it is a matter of proportion, I cannot rely on photos to tell me accurately what the proportions are of this dress.

From what I can see of the blade, it does have some Tuban characteristics, but from the pics the material does not look like Tuban, again anybody with any knowledge would really have to handle it before giving a definite opinion. I cannot give one based on photos.

Re "East Jawa". Madura is in East Jawa. It is a part of East Jawa. Used to be a ferry ride to get there, these days you drive over a bridge.

There is definite Bali influence in the dress of keris from Blambangan, but I do not know this particular dress of yours as Blambangan.

Based upon what I have been told by people living in Sumenep, and what I can see in these photos, on balance I would opt for Sumenep - Bali.

The mendak might be gold --- anything is possible --- but in all honesty the quality of workmanship simply does not sit well with even a village gold smith, it looks like a village jeweller's work, and I feel that I would be more inclined to guess at an alloy something like pinchbeck. If it is in fact Sumenep - Bali, I'd be inclined to leave it exactly as is.

Jean · 27th September 2011, 09:01 AM

Danny, this is a nice and rare style of mendak anyway.
Alan, please repeat the Sumenep - Bali story when you have time as I don't remember to have read it (unless somebody can refer to the thread in question), is it linked to the event when the Madurese enrolled Balinese soldiers for fighting against the Mataram kingdom?
Regards

Gustav · 27th September 2011, 10:03 AM

Here, http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...madura+wrongko, are some more questions and answers to be find.

danny1976 · 27th September 2011, 12:14 PM

@ Michael,

Thanks for showing , your's is a beauty . It is from the Tammen's keris isn't it?

@ Alan,

Thanks for the explanation , the story you're referring to is what I meant that we also can find on the keris disc from Jensen.

But I always thought if the keris has belonged to a Balinese living in Madura the waranka would have the ''eyebrow'' cut into the waranka ?
See the 2 photo,s a attached from the bigger brother I found together with 'my' keris we are discussing above. Or do I make a mistake and is the "eyebrow" not a typical Balinese feature ?

@ Gustav,

I will measure the mendhak later for you , thanks for bringing the link up.

Jean · 28th September 2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustav

Here, http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...madura+wrongko, are some more questions and answers to be find.

Thank you Gustav (and Alan), interesting subject!

kai · 30th September 2011, 09:15 AM

Hello Danny,

Please post more pics of the 2nd keris!

I feel that it rather strengthens the POV that this pair did came from Madura (with obviously heavy cultural influence from Bali). I'd keep both as found - IMVHO it would be a shame to alter a genuine combo as both appear to be. I'd only consider to patch the drilled holes with wax (or a traditional woodfiller if you're sure to achieve the same color).

I'd love to hear Alan's opinion wether such a selut as seen with the 2nd keris is also not unusual for the Madura-Bali setting!

Regards,
Kai

27th September 2011, 12:14 PM	#6
danny1976 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holland Posts: 245	@ Michael, Thanks for showing , your's is a beauty . It is from the Tammen's keris isn't it? @ Alan, Thanks for the explanation , the story you're referring to is what I meant that we also can find on the keris disc from Jensen. But I always thought if the keris has belonged to a Balinese living in Madura the waranka would have the ''eyebrow'' cut into the waranka ? See the 2 photo,s a attached from the bigger brother I found together with 'my' keris we are discussing above. Or do I make a mistake and is the "eyebrow" not a typical Balinese feature ? @ Gustav, I will measure the mendhak later for you , thanks for bringing the link up. Attached Images

26th September 2011, 10:11 PM	#2
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,280	Danny, what is the diameter of this mendak?

27th September 2011, 05:17 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Danny, I know this style of mendak, and class of workmanship, as Madura, village work. The dress I think I would probably give as Sumenep, Bali --- good story goes with this, but I'm pressed for time, and I think I might have already told the yarn anyway. The distinction between Sumenep - Bali and Bali - Bali is very fine as it is a matter of proportion, I cannot rely on photos to tell me accurately what the proportions are of this dress. From what I can see of the blade, it does have some Tuban characteristics, but from the pics the material does not look like Tuban, again anybody with any knowledge would really have to handle it before giving a definite opinion. I cannot give one based on photos. Re "East Jawa". Madura is in East Jawa. It is a part of East Jawa. Used to be a ferry ride to get there, these days you drive over a bridge. There is definite Bali influence in the dress of keris from Blambangan, but I do not know this particular dress of yours as Blambangan. Based upon what I have been told by people living in Sumenep, and what I can see in these photos, on balance I would opt for Sumenep - Bali. The mendak might be gold --- anything is possible --- but in all honesty the quality of workmanship simply does not sit well with even a village gold smith, it looks like a village jeweller's work, and I feel that I would be more inclined to guess at an alloy something like pinchbeck. If it is in fact Sumenep - Bali, I'd be inclined to leave it exactly as is.

27th September 2011, 09:01 AM	#4
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Danny, this is a nice and rare style of mendak anyway. Alan, please repeat the Sumenep - Bali story when you have time as I don't remember to have read it (unless somebody can refer to the thread in question), is it linked to the event when the Madurese enrolled Balinese soldiers for fighting against the Mataram kingdom? Regards

27th September 2011, 10:03 AM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,280	Here, http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...madura+wrongko, are some more questions and answers to be find.

30th September 2011, 09:15 AM	#8
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Danny, Please post more pics of the 2nd keris! I feel that it rather strengthens the POV that this pair did came from Madura (with obviously heavy cultural influence from Bali). I'd keep both as found - IMVHO it would be a shame to alter a genuine combo as both appear to be. I'd only consider to patch the drilled holes with wax (or a traditional woodfiller if you're sure to achieve the same color). I'd love to hear Alan's opinion wether such a selut as seen with the 2nd keris is also not unusual for the Madura-Bali setting! Regards, Kai