A Bugis keris for comments

Alam Shah · 12th March 2005, 10:03 AM

Closer shots...

DAHenkel · 12th March 2005, 05:10 PM

This keris is not Riau and is not Bugis - Straits or otherwise. Its East Sumatran and probably belonged to a Malay. the blade is Javanese and appears to be of the kodi variety - a trade blade but decent pamor. Banyu netes - I don't know though - I would have said kulit semangka. The silver is new - no more than a few years. I've seen a lot of this coming on the market lately.

Alam Shah · 12th March 2005, 05:29 PM

Thanks Dave,
Your comments are noted. Would you elaborate more regarding "the kodi variety".

BluErf · 13th March 2005, 02:51 AM

Something off the discussion of this keris -- what makes a keris kodi a keris kodi? Is it quality/form of the blade, the original intent for the blade at the time of manufacture, or does it just apply to keris blades that have been sold to another island, regardless of quality or intent?

We see Javanese blades in Bugis or Malay dress all the time. I recently acquired an E Sumatran keris (or so I thought) with a blade that was clearly E Javanese. What was more amazing was that after a few days, I saw another keris (belonging to another collector) in Sulawesi dress, with the same E Javanese form of blade. These blades are generally well-made, with full perabots and really nice ron dha, greneng, kembang kacang, sogokan and luks. Would these be considered 'trade blades'?

If a blade like this one (currently in Solo dress) were to get sold to another island, would it be considered a 'trade blade'? The way I see it this blade may be slightly nicer than Alam Shah's blade, but essentially of the same level.

BluErf · 13th March 2005, 03:15 AM

The E Sumatran keris in question.

DAHenkel · 13th March 2005, 09:41 AM

Kodi, as most of us know by now know, comes from the Javanese kodiat. It refers to a bundle of "20", in this case, kerises. These were trade blades made in Java for sale and sold in quantity. As with most things I should think they would have been of varying "quality" based on where and when they wer produced, as well as who produced them. Most would have been fairly average, a few probably less so and some may have been very nice indeed. Of course this can only be presumed as we know very little about the keris trade at this point.

Trade blades should not however be confused with high quality, high status pieces which were gifts from the courts of Java for earstwhile vassals. This is especially true of South Sumatra, which was ruled by Javanese appointed regents until about the time the Dutch took over. So, if you do come across a court quality keris its as likely as not its in this category.

As for your E. Sumatran keris Blu, I'd say actually that the dress is Sulawesi Bugis. And a very nice keris at that. Whether the blade is Javanese or not it another question. I have seen several Bugis keris with Javanese looking keris. Its likely as not these were trade blades, but they may also have been locally produced.

rasdan · 13th March 2005, 10:00 AM

This keris was said to be a Bugis keris. I agree with that. What do u guys think? Is it a Sulawesi piece? The sampir looks new and in Minang (?) style. Some books refer this kind of sampir as Sulawesi keris. Is it true?

BluErf · 13th March 2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAHenkel

As for your E. Sumatran keris Blu, I'd say actually that the dress is Sulawesi Bugis.

What about the lack of buntut on the batang? This batang has the bulge near the top, but has the typical 'rounded' bottom of Sumatran sheaths.

I hear that keris forms on E Sumatra are heavily influenced by Sulawesi forms, and so we see kerises which smacks of Sulawesi, but are actually produced locally in Sumatra.

ganjawulung · 8th October 2011, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAHenkel

Kodi, as most of us know by now know, comes from the Javanese kodiat. It refers to a bundle of "20", in this case, kerises. These were trade blades made in Java for sale and sold in quantity. As with most things I should think they would have been of varying "quality" based on where and when they wer produced, as well as who produced them. Most would have been fairly average, a few probably less so and some may have been very nice indeed. Of course this can only be presumed as we know very little about the keris trade at this point.

Just another illustration, yes, "kodi" means a bundle of "20" in javanese term as Dave has said. Usually we use this "kodi" term in trading or buying clothes, or batiks in javanese markets like Pasar Klewer in Solo, or Pasar Beringharjo in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. One "kodi" of batiks or clothes, we just say it "sak kodi" or "sekodi" (one kodi), "rong kodi" (two kodi), "telung kodi" (three kodi) etc... The "kodi" items, or not so high quality of things on trade term, we use to call it "something kodian". If it subjects to batiks, then we call it "batik kodian", and if it subjects to keris, then "keris kodian". So, "kodian" is adjectif for certain trade things, not high quality ones...

Alam Shah · 13th March 2005, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluErf

If a blade like this one (currently in Solo dress) were to get sold to another island, would it be considered a 'trade blade'? The way I see it this blade may be slightly nicer than Alam Shah's blade, but essentially of the same level.

Blu - I agree that your blade is nicer, looks more refined, while mine is cruder.

RSWORD · 13th March 2005, 07:22 PM

Great thread and great examples of Bugis/Sulawesi/Pelambang Keris. I wanted to add two examples to the thread as interesting(potentially) variants. Example 1

RSWORD · 13th March 2005, 07:25 PM

Here is the 2nd example, much simpler dress, but an intereting blade.

12th March 2005, 10:03 AM	#1
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Closer picture Closer shots... Attached Images

12th March 2005, 05:29 PM	#3
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Thanks Dave, Your comments are noted. Would you elaborate more regarding "the kodi variety". Last edited by Alam Shah; 13th March 2005 at 01:37 AM.

13th March 2005, 02:51 AM	#4
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Something off the discussion of this keris -- what makes a keris kodi a keris kodi? Is it quality/form of the blade, the original intent for the blade at the time of manufacture, or does it just apply to keris blades that have been sold to another island, regardless of quality or intent? We see Javanese blades in Bugis or Malay dress all the time. I recently acquired an E Sumatran keris (or so I thought) with a blade that was clearly E Javanese. What was more amazing was that after a few days, I saw another keris (belonging to another collector) in Sulawesi dress, with the same E Javanese form of blade. These blades are generally well-made, with full perabots and really nice ron dha, greneng, kembang kacang, sogokan and luks. Would these be considered 'trade blades'? If a blade like this one (currently in Solo dress) were to get sold to another island, would it be considered a 'trade blade'? The way I see it this blade may be slightly nicer than Alam Shah's blade, but essentially of the same level. Attached Images

13th March 2005, 03:15 AM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The E Sumatran keris in question. Attached Images

13th March 2005, 10:00 AM	#7
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 368	This keris was said to be a Bugis keris. I agree with that. What do u guys think? Is it a Sulawesi piece? The sampir looks new and in Minang (?) style. Some books refer this kind of sampir as Sulawesi keris. Is it true? Attached Images

12th March 2005, 05:10 PM	#2
DAHenkel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 125	This keris is not Riau and is not Bugis - Straits or otherwise. Its East Sumatran and probably belonged to a Malay. the blade is Javanese and appears to be of the kodi variety - a trade blade but decent pamor. Banyu netes - I don't know though - I would have said kulit semangka. The silver is new - no more than a few years. I've seen a lot of this coming on the market lately.

13th March 2005, 09:41 AM	#6
DAHenkel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 125	Kodi, as most of us know by now know, comes from the Javanese kodiat. It refers to a bundle of "20", in this case, kerises. These were trade blades made in Java for sale and sold in quantity. As with most things I should think they would have been of varying "quality" based on where and when they wer produced, as well as who produced them. Most would have been fairly average, a few probably less so and some may have been very nice indeed. Of course this can only be presumed as we know very little about the keris trade at this point. Trade blades should not however be confused with high quality, high status pieces which were gifts from the courts of Java for earstwhile vassals. This is especially true of South Sumatra, which was ruled by Javanese appointed regents until about the time the Dutch took over. So, if you do come across a court quality keris its as likely as not its in this category. As for your E. Sumatran keris Blu, I'd say actually that the dress is Sulawesi Bugis. And a very nice keris at that. Whether the blade is Javanese or not it another question. I have seen several Bugis keris with Javanese looking keris. Its likely as not these were trade blades, but they may also have been locally produced.

13th March 2005, 07:22 PM	#11
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	Great thread and great examples of Bugis/Sulawesi/Pelambang Keris. I wanted to add two examples to the thread as interesting(potentially) variants. Example 1 Attached Images

13th March 2005, 07:25 PM	#12
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	Here is the 2nd example, much simpler dress, but an intereting blade. Attached Images