Makasar-Gowa type keris

adamb · 27th August 2025, 05:49 AM

I saw this keris on display at a recent cultural festival in the town of Maros in South Sulawesi.

According to the available description it is from Simbang, an area on the outskirts of Maros.

Looks to be a Makasar-Gowa keris, which I've read are thought to be very old (17th/18th century and earlier).

In antique shops in Indonesia I have seen a few examples of keris in the Makasar-Gowa style that I take to be modern, or recent, reproductions.

This Simbang keris looks to be genuinely old (at least the blade, hilt and selut all do), but I have not seen this particular stylistic variant before.

Thoughts?

David · 31st August 2025, 11:20 PM

I am surprised no one has addressed you post yet.
I agree that the hilt is in the style of these older keris assigned to Makassar-Gowa, but this does not seem to be all that old this is not the style of blade that is to be found in those early examples. The blade here does seem to have some age, but i'm not sure it is any older than late 19th century. The sheath looks like a much later creation, likely karmardikan.
I have attached a number of examples of what the older forms attached to this style of dress look like.

27th August 2025, 05:49 AM	#1
adamb Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 34	Makasar-Gowa type keris I saw this keris on display at a recent cultural festival in the town of Maros in South Sulawesi. According to the available description it is from Simbang, an area on the outskirts of Maros. Looks to be a Makasar-Gowa keris, which I've read are thought to be very old (17th/18th century and earlier). In antique shops in Indonesia I have seen a few examples of keris in the Makasar-Gowa style that I take to be modern, or recent, reproductions. This Simbang keris looks to be genuinely old (at least the blade, hilt and selut all do), but I have not seen this particular stylistic variant before. Thoughts? Attached Images

31st August 2025, 11:20 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,232	I am surprised no one has addressed you post yet. I agree that the hilt is in the style of these older keris assigned to Makassar-Gowa, but this does not seem to be all that old this is not the style of blade that is to be found in those early examples. The blade here does seem to have some age, but i'm not sure it is any older than late 19th century. The sheath looks like a much later creation, likely karmardikan. I have attached a number of examples of what the older forms attached to this style of dress look like. Attached Images