Nice Old Sumatran Keris For Comment

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!

Ferguson · 3rd February 2006, 10:33 AM

Lew, that's beautiful. I know nothing about Keris (and very little about anything else

) but that just looks.....right. Superb.
Steve

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.

nechesh · 3rd February 2006, 03:58 PM

Hard to believe that only 2 other people bid on this one, and they were bidders who would have ordinarily given you more of a battle for a keris like this. I guess everyone but you must have fallen mysteriously asleep at just the right time....or perhaps, Lew, you have powers that you aren't revealing to us.

Lew · 3rd February 2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nechesh

Hard to believe that only 2 other people bid on this one, and they were bidders who would have ordinarily given you more of a battle for a keris like this. I guess everyone but you must have fallen mysteriously asleep at just the right time....or perhaps, Lew, you have powers that you aren't revealing to us.

Nechesh

I have a keris and it's pamor was especially made to give me power over Ebay auctions

Lew

manicdj · 3rd February 2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Nechesh

I have a keris and it's pamor was especially made to give me power over Ebay auctions

Lew

so I guess my "rabbits foot" lost its magic

nechesh · 3rd February 2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Nechesh

I have a keris and it's pamor was especially made to give me power over Ebay auctions

Lew

Ahhh, my suspicions are confirmed!

I agree with both Kai Wee and John, warangan would be the wrong way to go, but i think a light etching with lime, coconut or vinegar might let that beautiful pattern step out just a touch.

John · 3rd February 2006, 04:03 PM

Just to add a bit more; the hilt and crosspiece of sheath (Wrangka or Sampir) are made of Kemuning and stem (batang) of Angsana or sena woods. Buntut however is unclear from the pics shown. I'd agree on the Bugis characteristic on blade and that the Bugis are all over the Peninsular and also Sabah. However with my personal associations with the Bugis and Malays here, staining (and warangan) is unknown and etching are only done with coconut water and/or lime.

3rd February 2006, 09:33 AM	#3
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?

3rd February 2006, 04:33 AM	#1
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	#2
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	#4
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!

3rd February 2006, 10:33 AM	#5
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Lew, that's beautiful. I know nothing about Keris (and very little about anything else ) but that just looks.....right. Superb. Steve

3rd February 2006, 03:58 PM	#7
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hard to believe that only 2 other people bid on this one, and they were bidders who would have ordinarily given you more of a battle for a keris like this. I guess everyone but you must have fallen mysteriously asleep at just the right time....or perhaps, Lew, you have powers that you aren't revealing to us.

3rd February 2006, 04:03 PM	#11
John Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Land below the wind Posts: 135	Just to add a bit more; the hilt and crosspiece of sheath (Wrangka or Sampir) are made of Kemuning and stem (batang) of Angsana or sena woods. Buntut however is unclear from the pics shown. I'd agree on the Bugis characteristic on blade and that the Bugis are all over the Peninsular and also Sabah. However with my personal associations with the Bugis and Malays here, staining (and warangan) is unknown and etching are only done with coconut water and/or lime.