Minang Keris with mixed influences?

David · 27th September 2006, 11:15 PM

Thanks Kai, that is as i understand it as well. This was not information that i have read anywhere. It was related to me by a knowledgable member who hopefully will have more substantial information to add to this dicussion.
I can't really say why the Sumatran form of dress didn't follow suit. Perhaps the Palembang sultanate felt that the public part of the keris should reflect the Sumatran identity, while the blade itself, always a symbol of the right of rule, should follow the form of the Javanese court. This is, of course, mere speculation.

A. G. Maisey · 28th September 2006, 12:21 AM

There is no doubt that Javanese blades were exported all over the trade routes of South East Asia, and seemingly, even into the Indian sub-continent.

In The Book of Duarte Barbosa (1500's):- "In these ships the Jaos (ie, Javanese) bring hither great store of rice, beef, sheep,swine, deer, "salt meat",fowls, garlic and onions and also bring for sale many weapons, spears, "daggers", short swords, all finely worked and damascened on fine steel ,also cubebs and a yellow dye called cazuba, and many other small articles."

Barbosa wrote this relevant to trade into the port of Malacca.

Certainly Javanese blades were exported to Sumatra, and many other places , from a very early date, however local production also took place in the areas to which Javanese blades were exported, possibly using the Javanese blades as models.

Sultan Agung (Jawa, 17th century) established relations with the Jambi Sultanate, and Jambi and Mataram were allies. Additionally, during the 17th century there was close intermarriage between the Cirebon and Mataram courts. Cirebon motifs and styles evidence some Chinese influence, which in turn appears in Mataram works, and then in Palembang.

The famous pusaka keris Si Ginjei, of the Jambi Sultanate is a Mataram style keris, supposedly produced by Empu Kinom (Supo Anom), upon the order of Sultan Agung Anyokrokusumo (17th. century Jawa), and given to the Sultan of Jambi as a token of friendship.

I have seen, and I own, other keris from this area which stylistically are Mataram, but with minor differences in pawakan and material which would seem to indicate local manufacture in South Sumatra, rather than in Central Jawa.

My observations seem to indicate that high quality keris from the Palembang area reflect the Javanese style of any particular era, so that Mataram style is reflected in Palembang keris of the Mataram era, and Surakarta style is reflected in Palembang keris of the Surakarta era. I cannot say if this is an overall consistent influence, but instances of it have been observed.

Insufficient research has been carried out in this specific area of keris study to be too definite about the extent of influence exercised by Javanese blade styles upon locally manufactured blades in South Sumatra, however, we can be certain that such influence did exist, just as influence of other blade styles, such as Bugis , exists in the same area.

Incidentally, Jambi, and Palembang were separate entities, but old keris dress from both places is stylistically similar, and I would hestitate to differentiate one from the other.

What we can also be certain of is that nothing is certain, when we start to make guesses about keris.

Henk · 28th September 2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

What we can also be certain of is that nothing is certain, when we start to make guesses about keris.

Gentlemen, thanks for the lesson. Alan couldn't say it better with this remark.

A. G. Maisey · 28th September 2006, 11:13 PM

Here are two images of Si Ginjei.

I apologise for the quality, they are scanned images.

This historic keris was supposedly made by Empu Kinom, and is a Mataram Sultan Agung keris.

It was gifted to the Sultan of Jambi, so we can assume the wrongko and handle are representative of old Jambi style.

I have seen old keris attributed to Palembang that had dress so similar to this that I could not distinguish any material difference.

28th September 2006, 11:13 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Here are two images of Si Ginjei. I apologise for the quality, they are scanned images. This historic keris was supposedly made by Empu Kinom, and is a Mataram Sultan Agung keris. It was gifted to the Sultan of Jambi, so we can assume the wrongko and handle are representative of old Jambi style. I have seen old keris attributed to Palembang that had dress so similar to this that I could not distinguish any material difference. Attached Images

27th September 2006, 11:15 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Thanks Kai, that is as i understand it as well. This was not information that i have read anywhere. It was related to me by a knowledgable member who hopefully will have more substantial information to add to this dicussion. I can't really say why the Sumatran form of dress didn't follow suit. Perhaps the Palembang sultanate felt that the public part of the keris should reflect the Sumatran identity, while the blade itself, always a symbol of the right of rule, should follow the form of the Javanese court. This is, of course, mere speculation.

28th September 2006, 12:21 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	There is no doubt that Javanese blades were exported all over the trade routes of South East Asia, and seemingly, even into the Indian sub-continent. In The Book of Duarte Barbosa (1500's):- "In these ships the Jaos (ie, Javanese) bring hither great store of rice, beef, sheep,swine, deer, "salt meat",fowls, garlic and onions and also bring for sale many weapons, spears, "daggers", short swords, all finely worked and damascened on fine steel ,also cubebs and a yellow dye called cazuba, and many other small articles." Barbosa wrote this relevant to trade into the port of Malacca. Certainly Javanese blades were exported to Sumatra, and many other places , from a very early date, however local production also took place in the areas to which Javanese blades were exported, possibly using the Javanese blades as models. Sultan Agung (Jawa, 17th century) established relations with the Jambi Sultanate, and Jambi and Mataram were allies. Additionally, during the 17th century there was close intermarriage between the Cirebon and Mataram courts. Cirebon motifs and styles evidence some Chinese influence, which in turn appears in Mataram works, and then in Palembang. The famous pusaka keris Si Ginjei, of the Jambi Sultanate is a Mataram style keris, supposedly produced by Empu Kinom (Supo Anom), upon the order of Sultan Agung Anyokrokusumo (17th. century Jawa), and given to the Sultan of Jambi as a token of friendship. I have seen, and I own, other keris from this area which stylistically are Mataram, but with minor differences in pawakan and material which would seem to indicate local manufacture in South Sumatra, rather than in Central Jawa. My observations seem to indicate that high quality keris from the Palembang area reflect the Javanese style of any particular era, so that Mataram style is reflected in Palembang keris of the Mataram era, and Surakarta style is reflected in Palembang keris of the Surakarta era. I cannot say if this is an overall consistent influence, but instances of it have been observed. Insufficient research has been carried out in this specific area of keris study to be too definite about the extent of influence exercised by Javanese blade styles upon locally manufactured blades in South Sumatra, however, we can be certain that such influence did exist, just as influence of other blade styles, such as Bugis , exists in the same area. Incidentally, Jambi, and Palembang were separate entities, but old keris dress from both places is stylistically similar, and I would hestitate to differentiate one from the other. What we can also be certain of is that nothing is certain, when we start to make guesses about keris.