Bugis Chieftain's Keris: does it exist?

Jean · 2nd December 2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

A lot of nice examples going up, but frankly i'm not convinced that we are any closer to answering José's initial question. Certainly a form of dress exists which collectors at least have seen fit to tag as "chieftain" keris. I have seen a couple of posts that begin "i have heard" or some other unsubstantiated claim, but nothing that nails down that a keris of a certain width with 7 luks in one of these fat, wide sheaths is definitely a "chieftain" keris and not simply that of a wealthy merchant or man of means.

Hello David,
At least there are 2 partial and reasonably accurate replies to Jose's question:
1. These "chieftain" krisses exist and a representative specimen is shown in post # 26.
2. I concur with Alam Shah and others that these krisses are not indigenous to Sulawesi/ Sumbawa but probably from the Peninsula (but which area?) and possibly the Riau islands. From memory I never saw any specimen in Indonesia even in the museums, and they are not mentioned in the recent book about Bugis Sulawesi weapons.
Regarding the blades features and by whom were they worn, I don't know.
Regards

David · 2nd December 2013, 11:32 PM

Well Jean, of course they exist, we have all seen these examples before. Their existence is not what is actually in question here. But just because we assign them to the ownership of "chieftains" doesn't make it so. What i would like to see is photographic evidence of acknowledged chieftains with these keris in their possession or perhaps images of obviously non-chieftain types (perhaps just well off merchants or people of other status) with them. Who first began calling these "chieftain" keris and when? If indeed this type of ensemble was held by certain Bugis chieftains in a particular part of the Indonesian archipelago, were they the only ones permitted to wear such dress or could anyone who could afford such an ensemble own one?
Your second reply was not part of José's initial question, but certainly it brings us a little closer to the origin of these keris if by nothing else the process of elimination.

Battara · 3rd December 2013, 12:13 AM

Here, here, David, here, here!

2nd December 2013, 11:32 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Well Jean, of course they exist, we have all seen these examples before. Their existence is not what is actually in question here. But just because we assign them to the ownership of "chieftains" doesn't make it so. What i would like to see is photographic evidence of acknowledged chieftains with these keris in their possession or perhaps images of obviously non-chieftain types (perhaps just well off merchants or people of other status) with them. Who first began calling these "chieftain" keris and when? If indeed this type of ensemble was held by certain Bugis chieftains in a particular part of the Indonesian archipelago, were they the only ones permitted to wear such dress or could anyone who could afford such an ensemble own one? Your second reply was not part of José's initial question, but certainly it brings us a little closer to the origin of these keris if by nothing else the process of elimination.

3rd December 2013, 12:13 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Here, here, David, here, here!