Help with origin and age of my Keris

Rick · 9th October 2011, 05:43 PM

Matt, please upload your pictures to the site .
Directions can be found in posting photos .

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631

Thanks .

Matt · 10th October 2011, 12:22 AM

Sorry, I had originally included embedded photobucket links but I guess those didn't work.

Rick · 10th October 2011, 02:26 AM

Thanks Matt,
Your links worked, but when you change or cancel your hosting account the pictures disappear from this site and the information without the pictures becomes useless .

Now they are immortalized for future readers !

Thanks,

Rick

kai · 10th October 2011, 09:38 AM

Welcome to the forum, Matt!

Not a royal heirloom piece but certainly looks like a genuine, antique keris from the Bugis-influenced sphere.

It will look better if you obtain a fitting pendokok/selut for it: a cup-shaped bronze/brass piece would suit the ensemble IMHO.

The hilt shows some wear and may be a village version. I've seen hilts of similar shape being referred to the Riau/straits region but I may overlook details hinting at another origin.

All in all a nice piece of history and certainly a very decent start for a keris collection!

Regards,
Kai

Matt · 10th October 2011, 03:09 PM

Thank you kai, the hilt does look similar to pictures of other Riau hilts.

Would this blade have been something that was made for the tourist trade and was sold to the gentleman during the war? Or could it be something older that he picked up while he was there? I always like to imagine the kind of history a genuine object has, and a souvenir piece doesn't spark my imagination much!

Rick · 10th October 2011, 04:04 PM

Doubtful it is a keris made to sell to tourists Matt .

No scabbard ?

Matt · 11th October 2011, 12:19 AM

No, no scabbard.

Is replacing missing scabbards a common practice? I'm not sure if I would want to add one as it wouldn't be original to the piece.

kai · 11th October 2011, 12:48 AM

Hello Matt,

Quote:

the hilt does look similar to pictures of other Riau hilts.

It's certainly not the most common type from that area.

Can the hilt be carefully removed? Maybe try to take a pic of the blade without shadow - this will allow the shape to be seen better.

Quote:

Would this blade have been something that was made for the tourist trade and was sold to the gentleman during the war? Or could it be something older that he picked up while he was there?

Nah, not a tourist piece. If picked up during the WW2 period, both hilt and, especially, blade were likely decades old.

Regards,
Kai

9th October 2011, 05:43 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Matt, please upload your pictures to the site . Directions can be found in posting photos . http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631 Thanks .

10th October 2011, 12:22 AM	#2
Matt Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Sorry, I had originally included embedded photobucket links but I guess those didn't work.

10th October 2011, 02:26 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Thanks Matt, Your links worked, but when you change or cancel your hosting account the pictures disappear from this site and the information without the pictures becomes useless . Now they are immortalized for future readers ! Thanks, Rick

10th October 2011, 09:38 AM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Welcome to the forum, Matt! Not a royal heirloom piece but certainly looks like a genuine, antique keris from the Bugis-influenced sphere. It will look better if you obtain a fitting pendokok/selut for it: a cup-shaped bronze/brass piece would suit the ensemble IMHO. The hilt shows some wear and may be a village version. I've seen hilts of similar shape being referred to the Riau/straits region but I may overlook details hinting at another origin. All in all a nice piece of history and certainly a very decent start for a keris collection! Regards, Kai

10th October 2011, 03:09 PM	#5
Matt Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Thank you kai, the hilt does look similar to pictures of other Riau hilts. Would this blade have been something that was made for the tourist trade and was sold to the gentleman during the war? Or could it be something older that he picked up while he was there? I always like to imagine the kind of history a genuine object has, and a souvenir piece doesn't spark my imagination much!

10th October 2011, 04:04 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Doubtful it is a keris made to sell to tourists Matt . No scabbard ?

11th October 2011, 12:19 AM	#7
Matt Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	No, no scabbard. Is replacing missing scabbards a common practice? I'm not sure if I would want to add one as it wouldn't be original to the piece.