Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Keris Warung Kopi
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 4th May 2025, 10:50 PM   #1
David
Keris forum moderator
 
David's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,241
Default

I tend to agree with Rasdan on the blade origin. Certainly not Sumatran. Blade is most likely 19th century. It is difficult to know if the wrongko is original to the blade based upon your photos. How well does the blade fit into the sheath? I would think it is unlikely that the hilt is original to this keris since this is a Surakarta form of planar hilt that would not be a natural fit for it.
You can find both new and used mendhaks fairly easily in places like eBay. And yes, the hilt should be turned 180º for a proper orientation.
David is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th May 2025, 02:33 AM   #2
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,067
Default

I'd be inclined to think of this keris as "generic Javanese".

As Rasdan has said, blade is most likely East Jawa, maybe Madura.

The wrongko could be from anywhere, when I see these slightly fatter gayamans I tend to think of Banyumas, but I've seen the same or similar from along the North Coast of Jawa, & the far East of Jawa, around Banyuwangi.

The hilt is a Javanese planar hilt, stylistically very possibly Surakarta, but again it could be from anywhere, East Jawa uses this planar style also, & it actually originated in Cirebon. Photographs can often distort the true form of a subject, and this hilt looks a bit to short and bunkul a bit too heavy for Jawa Tengah.

In any case, a pretty nice old "every man's" keris, well worth a bit of effort to give it a facelift.
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th May 2025, 09:13 AM   #3
milandro
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 497
Default

I have a similar looking blade (also of some age) on a Bugis dress, cross contamination of blades and dress are very common and not necessarily the product of foul play. It still happens and happened in the past too.
milandro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th May 2025, 12:44 PM   #4
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,067
Default

Jawa was a big exporter of weapon blades for a very long time & over a very big area. We can expect to find weapon blades that were made in Jawa in many places.
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th May 2025, 09:23 AM   #5
Pak Daud
Member
 
Join Date: May 2024
Posts: 6
Default

Greetings Gentlemen,
If I may post a comment upon this Keris, is a mixmatched between several "pakem" or I sould say "langgam" (perceived style). Obviously this keris blade was forged using langgam East Jawa/Madura. But to my best guess, that it have a tendency toward Madura. Since the Pamor is "Nggajih- ngambang" (floating and staggered as in animal's raw fat). I can not tell if keris was forged using two-toned pamor, until it was dipped in warangan to show pamor's gradation. The resemble of "tikel alis", is a tad off from "pejetan", I suspect that this practice was meant to uppen the offered price, from regular Keris Brojol.
Scabbard is standard Gayaman, with kind of thick upper head, I think it's Ponorogo style. Hilt is obviously Surakartan, for commoner (abangan) since it has no intricate details. No "mendak" (ring).
Thus far, even if the Keris was OK, it's kind of "owahan" (modified). But surely sufficient for beginers to have one.
But again, sincere appology if I made wrong interpretations.
Pak Daud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th May 2025, 11:02 PM   #6
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,067
Default

Actually, the jejeran does have cecekan.

In Jawa Tengah, a planar hilt lacking cecekan is usually used for sandang walikat dress, it does not relate to hierarchical status.
Attached Images
 
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th May 2025, 11:16 PM   #7
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,067
Default

That little bit of adjustment that I did prompted me to have a closer look at what remains of the tikel alis.

This keris has the older style of tikel alis that goes right through to the front of the gandhik, & the blade overall has suffered some erosion. That erosion has taken definition from the lower edge of the tikel alis, that is the reason that it looks a bit queer. There have not been any alterations to the blade intended to increase perceived value, it is just an old, simple blade that has suffered some neglect.

It is always difficult to try to make a balanced assessment of a keris from a photo, in the hand many things become apparent that are simply not obvious in even the very best of professional photographs.
Attached Images
 
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.