Moro or Kalimantan ?

[VVV]

Thanks Shahrial for the references.

Obviously I have to study Brunei better instead of focusing on the other Borneo regions.
Do I understand you correct that your listed sources states that it was only Keris that were produced in Brunei and that the Kris were imported from the Sulu archipelago?
Or do they state that Kris also were produced in Brunei?

If so, is there a special Brunei style of Kris with characteristic features?

Michael

[Bill]

"The Keris Sulok or Sundang" by E. Banks has been discussed in the past. While he doubts the keris was made by Bornean Malays he states the Sulok/Sundang "certainly" was made in Brunei for a time. There you go back to the common sense problem of explaining how smiths that never made the keris come up with Cato's "18thC" kris, a sword with remarkable workmanship. Although I haven't see any accurate discription of the swords, early western explorers were impressed with arms of early Brunei.

[VVV]

Thanks Bill,

I have always assumed that Keris Sulok means Sulu Kris?

But obviously, according to Banks 1940, he was told that they were once made in Brunei also.
Still, looking at the picture in the article, it seems as if it was the Sulu Kris being made there and not a Borneo, or Brunei, Kris?
And at least one of the Kris in the picture seems to be Maranao (maybe imported)?

Michael

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Bill

...There you go back to the common sense problem of explaining how smiths that never made the keris come up with Cato's "18thC" kris, a sword with remarkable workmanship. Although I haven't see any accurate discription of the swords, early western explorers were impressed with arms of early Brunei.

Could it be a smith who migrated to these area, from Sulu or Mindanao? In the Asian Civilisation Museum, Singapore, there is a sundang which is attributed to Brunei. It is of fine worksmanship as well.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

Could it be a smith who migrated to these area, from Sulu or Mindanao? In the Asian Civilisation Museum, Singapore, there is a sundang which is attributed to Brunei. It is of fine worksmanship as well.

Yes, a smith who's ancestors may have been Madurese .

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Rick

Yes, a smith who's ancestors may have been Madurese .

How's that, Rick?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

How's that, Rick?

Shahrial,
Don't you think that Madurese and Javanese smiths and their far flung descendants have spread pamor and smithing techniques and influences throughout the world of the keris/kris over the centuries ?

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Rick

... Don't you think that Madurese and Javanese smiths and their far flung descendants have spread pamor and smithing techniques and influences throughout the world of the keris/kris over the centuries ?

Ah... yes... I believe they do. But you only mentioned Maduranese... hence the ? Need to research more on Brunei keris/kris.

There is a book "Keris : peranannya dalam masyarakat Melayu Brunei".
(Translated = Keris: its role in the Brunei Malay community.)
Author: Haji Hashim B. Haji Mohd Noor.
Publisher: Berakas, Negara Brunei Darussalam : Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, 2004.

Comments: It's a research article on the Brunei keris, written in Malay. There are pictures of keris with Brunei influence, brunei styles, local terms used, materials and interviews with the 'pandai besi' and kerismakers.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Rick

Yes, a smith who's ancestors may have been Madurese .

I think everyone visited Brunei. "a Sketch of the History of Brunei" by Hughes-Hallett admits the history is lacking considering it was once a important trade center and powerful kingdom. Chinese coins dating to 600 BC were found in the mouth of the Sarawak river. Oral tradition says royal families had both Chinese and Javanese blood. Early westerners were surprised at the amount of Chinese, Arab and Bugis. Certainly after 1669 the "Bugis Diaspora" had large Bugis migration. Also in the 17thC, the Sultan of Sulu was involved in a Brunei civil war and was awarded large territories in North Borneo.