My Java keris

Jean · 6th October 2016, 08:39 AM

Excellent explanation Alan, thanks!

Johan van Zyl · 6th October 2016, 10:11 AM

I was very pleased to have read all your comments, and thank you. Especially Mr Maisey has gone out of his way to give some serious thought, but I appreciate every reaction, even small. Amongst others, I have now as a result researched timoho wood and have noticed the opinions on the dark spots being caused by fungal growth.
I have a further question on the wrangka of my keris. In comparing many pics of the basic shape called ladrang, of which mine is an example, I came under the impression of the outlines of the keel, bow and stern of a boat. I suppose the boat design is simply reminiscent of the Indonesian countries having seafaring people living in them.
I was wondering why the upturned ends of my wrangka does not rise so tall as those I have seen the pics of. There is no indication whatsoever that my wrangka had lost its high point due to breakage. Everything looks fine. Perhaps the very high swirling bow and stern are more modern? Another question: both the ladrang and gayaman shapes seem to be Javanese, but what position would these two different shapes enjoy in their everyday use? Are they both held in the same esteem? And a last question today, if you will be so kind: the wood my wrangka was made of does not seem to be timoho. Some comment on what you reckon it might be? Perhaps kemuning or trembalo?
Johan

David · 6th October 2016, 04:48 PM

Johan, in response to some of your questions regarding your sheath, ladrang sheaths are for formal occasions (weddings, court, etc.) while gayaman sheaths are for everyday use. I am not sure if one is necessarily held in higher esteem, it is simply a matter of application.
As Detlef has already remarked, your sheath (wrongko) is of a lesser seen variety, so no, it has not been re-worked from a normal ladrang sheath.

Jean · 6th October 2016, 05:28 PM

Hello Johan,
According to the book "Keris dan senjata pusaka bahari", your warangka is in perahu labuh ( a type of boat it would seem) style from Cirebon. The S shaped rib on the right side of your picture is an additional indicator besides the slightly curved ends. By the way the pendok (metal oversheath) seems inverted, the carved side should be on the front of the scabbard.
Your warangka seems to be made from kemuning from the pics but other options are possible, a better picture would help.
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 6th October 2016, 08:07 PM

Keris scabbards from before about 1400 seem to have been squarish in shape, somewhat similar to the scabbards that we now think of as Bugis.

By the first half of the 15th century a ladrangan style seems to have evolved.

There has been a theory floating around for a long time that the "boat" shape of some scabbards is in recognition of the ancestors having travelled by sea to settle in Jawa. I personally doubt this theory because the early ladrangan styles did not look nearly as boat-like as the much later Central Javanese styles, nor for that matter as boat-like as the North Coast styles, such as the one under discussion. My own feeling is that we simply have an instance of artistic advance.

I agree that kemuning might be a good bet for the scabbard wood.

Johan van Zyl · 7th October 2016, 01:42 PM

David, Jean & Mr Maisey, I am loath to ask more questions and put you to further trouble, but I cannot help myself. Your kind comments only serve to whet my interest further in regard to this awesome keris. (I have taken serious note of your advice so far and am amplifying my "Java Keris Book of Facts" as I go along.) May there be some more Q & A's before you lose patience with me!
Noting what was said above about the inverted metal oversheath: When I received this keris and sheath, the wrangka was separated from the bunton-type gandar/pendok unit. I could not get confirmation from the owner that the warangka and pendok/gandar actually belonged to one another. He simply did not know, but he said he got it in that condition. I gently tried to fit the warangka to the rest of the sheath first the one way around, then the other. The way it is now, glued together by me, is the way it fitted best. I admit I let myself be led by this fit. The other way around was very ill-fitting. Now this might spell out that the two components do not belong to one another - the inverted fit being better merely by coincidence.
In addition, the brass oversheath has floral/leafy designs on the one side, and looking at the indentations carefully, I think they were stamped in with punches and hammer, not incised/carved. If the quality of the oversheath is inferior to the quality of the wrangka, it might suggest the two do not match. Depending on your comments, I might have to detach and re-attach the wrangka other way round?
Lastly, I am wondering about the pendok variation I have. It cannot be cukitan, because the design is not pierced, nor is it carved (krawangan). Is it a known variation when the decoration is by punch?
Johan

Johan van Zyl · 7th October 2016, 02:01 PM

To show the punchwork. I hope it is clear enough!
Johan

Sajen · 7th October 2016, 02:09 PM

Dear Johan,

I have attached a picture from a keris in front side view, it's the show side.
Normally is a pendok only put-on over the wooden gandar. So you need only to reverse the pendok when possible. Pendoks can be engraved or punched (from front or the back). I haven't noticed until now that the pendok is decorated!

You should provide better and bigger pictures.

Regards,
Detlef

6th October 2016, 05:28 PM	#4
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Hello Johan, According to the book "Keris dan senjata pusaka bahari", your warangka is in perahu labuh ( a type of boat it would seem) style from Cirebon. The S shaped rib on the right side of your picture is an additional indicator besides the slightly curved ends. By the way the pendok (metal oversheath) seems inverted, the carved side should be on the front of the scabbard. Your warangka seems to be made from kemuning from the pics but other options are possible, a better picture would help. Regards Attached Images

7th October 2016, 02:01 PM	#7
Johan van Zyl Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: I live in Gordon's Bay, a village in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Posts: 126	To show the punchwork. I hope it is clear enough! Johan Attached Images

7th October 2016, 02:09 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Dear Johan, I have attached a picture from a keris in front side view, it's the show side. Normally is a pendok only put-on over the wooden gandar. So you need only to reverse the pendok when possible. Pendoks can be engraved or punched (from front or the back). I haven't noticed until now that the pendok is decorated! You should provide better and bigger pictures. Regards, Detlef Attached Images

6th October 2016, 08:39 AM	#1
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Excellent explanation Alan, thanks!

6th October 2016, 10:11 AM	#2
Johan van Zyl Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: I live in Gordon's Bay, a village in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Posts: 126	I was very pleased to have read all your comments, and thank you. Especially Mr Maisey has gone out of his way to give some serious thought, but I appreciate every reaction, even small. Amongst others, I have now as a result researched timoho wood and have noticed the opinions on the dark spots being caused by fungal growth. I have a further question on the wrangka of my keris. In comparing many pics of the basic shape called ladrang, of which mine is an example, I came under the impression of the outlines of the keel, bow and stern of a boat. I suppose the boat design is simply reminiscent of the Indonesian countries having seafaring people living in them. I was wondering why the upturned ends of my wrangka does not rise so tall as those I have seen the pics of. There is no indication whatsoever that my wrangka had lost its high point due to breakage. Everything looks fine. Perhaps the very high swirling bow and stern are more modern? Another question: both the ladrang and gayaman shapes seem to be Javanese, but what position would these two different shapes enjoy in their everyday use? Are they both held in the same esteem? And a last question today, if you will be so kind: the wood my wrangka was made of does not seem to be timoho. Some comment on what you reckon it might be? Perhaps kemuning or trembalo? Johan

6th October 2016, 04:48 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Johan, in response to some of your questions regarding your sheath, ladrang sheaths are for formal occasions (weddings, court, etc.) while gayaman sheaths are for everyday use. I am not sure if one is necessarily held in higher esteem, it is simply a matter of application. As Detlef has already remarked, your sheath (wrongko) is of a lesser seen variety, so no, it has not been re-worked from a normal ladrang sheath.

6th October 2016, 08:07 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Keris scabbards from before about 1400 seem to have been squarish in shape, somewhat similar to the scabbards that we now think of as Bugis. By the first half of the 15th century a ladrangan style seems to have evolved. There has been a theory floating around for a long time that the "boat" shape of some scabbards is in recognition of the ancestors having travelled by sea to settle in Jawa. I personally doubt this theory because the early ladrangan styles did not look nearly as boat-like as the much later Central Javanese styles, nor for that matter as boat-like as the North Coast styles, such as the one under discussion. My own feeling is that we simply have an instance of artistic advance. I agree that kemuning might be a good bet for the scabbard wood.

7th October 2016, 01:42 PM	#6
Johan van Zyl Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: I live in Gordon's Bay, a village in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Posts: 126	David, Jean & Mr Maisey, I am loath to ask more questions and put you to further trouble, but I cannot help myself. Your kind comments only serve to whet my interest further in regard to this awesome keris. (I have taken serious note of your advice so far and am amplifying my "Java Keris Book of Facts" as I go along.) May there be some more Q & A's before you lose patience with me! Noting what was said above about the inverted metal oversheath: When I received this keris and sheath, the wrangka was separated from the bunton-type gandar/pendok unit. I could not get confirmation from the owner that the warangka and pendok/gandar actually belonged to one another. He simply did not know, but he said he got it in that condition. I gently tried to fit the warangka to the rest of the sheath first the one way around, then the other. The way it is now, glued together by me, is the way it fitted best. I admit I let myself be led by this fit. The other way around was very ill-fitting. Now this might spell out that the two components do not belong to one another - the inverted fit being better merely by coincidence. In addition, the brass oversheath has floral/leafy designs on the one side, and looking at the indentations carefully, I think they were stamped in with punches and hammer, not incised/carved. If the quality of the oversheath is inferior to the quality of the wrangka, it might suggest the two do not match. Depending on your comments, I might have to detach and re-attach the wrangka other way round? Lastly, I am wondering about the pendok variation I have. It cannot be cukitan, because the design is not pierced, nor is it carved (krawangan). Is it a known variation when the decoration is by punch? Johan