Nice Old Sumatran Keris For Comment

nechesh · 29th January 2006, 03:16 PM

As i said i PM Lew, nice catch, especially at that price. Shows you can still find a bargain or two on ebay.

I am still curious about what appears to be a round indentation at the base of the kris. It reminds me a little of the finger impressions on keris picit, though it seems a bit less organic. Still, it seems intentional and i wonder what symbolic significance might be connected to it.
I look forward to seeing this one restored and better photographed.

Lew · 3rd February 2006, 02:22 AM

Hi All

The keris arrived today and it is a beauty. When I took it out of the box I noticed that the former owner had glued the ukiran on upside down

I blasted the blade for a few minutes with the hairdryer and the glue softened up enough to turn the ukiran the right way

. Now I am a happy camper

here are a few quick pics until I get some good light for better pictures.

Lew

nechesh · 3rd February 2006, 02:50 AM

Hey Lew, i'm glad you finally got that glue loosened up. I would take it a step further if i were you. Take the hilt off altogether and clean all that crap out of there and off the pesi and then reattatch it with a cloth wrap.
Definitely a nice deal you got there. Can't wait to see a stain on that blade. Looks like a nice pamor.

BluErf · 3rd February 2006, 04:33 AM

Everything, from the hilt to the hilt cup to the sheath for the blade looks original and fitting. Remember the to maintain the wood with some wood oil!

The hilt is a very well-carved specimen, top 25% at least, I'd say. The wood grain also looks fantastic! Keep it well, Lew.

PS: If you ever replace whatever is holding the hilt to the blade with cloth, remember not to make it too tight, or the hilt will eventually split, which is going to be a real shame.

BluErf · 3rd February 2006, 04:42 AM

Another thing, traditionally, the Malay's do not etch/stain their kerises with warangan (arsenic trioxide). They leave the blades in the 'raw' state pretty much like what this keris currently is (though this blade is a lot smoother due to steel-woolling, no doubt). Not a bad thing actually; its easier to clean, and is less prone to rusting.

To 'restore' it to its 'original' state, just dip the blade in vinegar for about 30min, then wash with a lot of soap. But the blade is really nice as it is, so personally, I won't do it.

Raja Muda · 3rd February 2006, 09:33 AM

Congratulations on owning such a beautiful keris. It's always a joy to own one where you not only have a nice, intact blade but also sarung and hulu aged to perfection, with that mature reddish brown hue.

At first glance, the blade looks like the work of a Malay pandai besi, but I can't help but sense something of a Bugis sensibility to the blade, which I just can't pin down. Any ideas why anyone?

Titus Pullo · 3rd February 2006, 09:39 AM

Nice a nice blade! I lived in Penang, Malaysia for two years when my dad was working for an American multinational corporation called National Semiconductor...too bad, though...I didn't get any of Keris there. I always wanted one but never gotten around to by one!

I think they blade design are cool!

BluErf · 3rd February 2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raja Muda

Congratulations on owning such a beautiful keris. It's always a joy to own one where you not only have a nice, intact blade but also sarung and hulu aged to perfection, with that mature reddish brown hue.

At first glance, the blade looks like the work of a Malay pandai besi, but I can't help but sense something of a Bugis sensibility to the blade, which I just can't pin down. Any ideas why anyone?

The simple answer is -- It's because there is indeed Bugis influence in the keris.

The Bugis has imprinted their mark in many parts of the archipelago, being involved in politics, war and even court intrigues. The royal families of Johore, Selangor are Bugis. The state of Perak and Kedah were occupied by or subject to political manipulations of the Bugis at some point in the 18th century. You would find that the more south (in the Malay Peninsula) one travels, the more obvious the Bugis influence.

This keris here has a certain Malayan 'grace' to it, specifically, if you look at the well-formed greneng. More curvy, one might say. Or simply -- just 'sweeter' look. Typically, the 'true-blue' Sulawesi and Riau Bugis blades are tough but with rather awkward-looking ricikans. It's the Malay sense of aesthetics which, when blended with the Bugis style of forging, creates a slightly different class of keris blades.

3rd February 2006, 02:22 AM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi All The keris arrived today and it is a beauty. When I took it out of the box I noticed that the former owner had glued the ukiran on upside down I blasted the blade for a few minutes with the hairdryer and the glue softened up enough to turn the ukiran the right way . Now I am a happy camper here are a few quick pics until I get some good light for better pictures. Lew Attached Images

3rd February 2006, 09:33 AM	#6
Raja Muda Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 100	Keris Melayu Congratulations on owning such a beautiful keris. It's always a joy to own one where you not only have a nice, intact blade but also sarung and hulu aged to perfection, with that mature reddish brown hue. At first glance, the blade looks like the work of a Malay pandai besi, but I can't help but sense something of a Bugis sensibility to the blade, which I just can't pin down. Any ideas why anyone?

29th January 2006, 03:16 PM	#1
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	As i said i PM Lew, nice catch, especially at that price. Shows you can still find a bargain or two on ebay. I am still curious about what appears to be a round indentation at the base of the kris. It reminds me a little of the finger impressions on keris picit, though it seems a bit less organic. Still, it seems intentional and i wonder what symbolic significance might be connected to it. I look forward to seeing this one restored and better photographed.

3rd February 2006, 02:50 AM	#3
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hey Lew, i'm glad you finally got that glue loosened up. I would take it a step further if i were you. Take the hilt off altogether and clean all that crap out of there and off the pesi and then reattatch it with a cloth wrap. Definitely a nice deal you got there. Can't wait to see a stain on that blade. Looks like a nice pamor.

3rd February 2006, 04:33 AM	#4
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Everything, from the hilt to the hilt cup to the sheath for the blade looks original and fitting. Remember the to maintain the wood with some wood oil! The hilt is a very well-carved specimen, top 25% at least, I'd say. The wood grain also looks fantastic! Keep it well, Lew. PS: If you ever replace whatever is holding the hilt to the blade with cloth, remember not to make it too tight, or the hilt will eventually split, which is going to be a real shame.

3rd February 2006, 04:42 AM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Another thing, traditionally, the Malay's do not etch/stain their kerises with warangan (arsenic trioxide). They leave the blades in the 'raw' state pretty much like what this keris currently is (though this blade is a lot smoother due to steel-woolling, no doubt). Not a bad thing actually; its easier to clean, and is less prone to rusting. To 'restore' it to its 'original' state, just dip the blade in vinegar for about 30min, then wash with a lot of soap. But the blade is really nice as it is, so personally, I won't do it.

3rd February 2006, 09:39 AM	#7
Titus Pullo Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 123	Nice a nice blade! I lived in Penang, Malaysia for two years when my dad was working for an American multinational corporation called National Semiconductor...too bad, though...I didn't get any of Keris there. I always wanted one but never gotten around to by one! I think they blade design are cool!