Ideas?

[Tim Simmons]

I am almost certain that this is something rather special from Melanesian Islands. Just google Melanesian ritual headbands to see I am not making it up. This picture is of one from Vanuatu. You say you got it in Jawa, the Indonesians do occupy a portion of the aforementioned. The evidence may be circumspection in a court of law but that does not mean it is not what happened.

[A. G. Maisey]

This is interesting speculation, Tim, but you are working from a photographic image, I am working from the actual object in my hand, and a knowledge base that can call upon thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of keris hilts, handles of pelecoks, handles of other various small Indonesian implements and related artifacts.

I also have some limited experience in Melanesian and Pacific art.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this carving is a keris hilt. I think it is most probably from Jawa, but I would not rule out Madura and Sumatra, or one of the small islands off the north coast of Jawa.

The features that puzzle me are the headband, which is something I cannot place, and the representation at the lower end, which could be a sarung, or some other item of clothing, or simply artistic convention to close the figure.

It is a piece by a non-professional carver, probably something that somebody has made for himself.

I was rather hoping that somebody may have been able to identify the headband as an item that could be associated with a particular era, religious group, cultural group, or location.

The nose is distinctly "roman" in profile, which seems to me that it might have an Arabic input, and by association, an Islamic inference.

Possibly we have a grass-roots interpretation of one of the Wali Songo?

The reason I posted the pic was to generate discussion, so your idea that it could be Melanesian is well and truly within the bounds of my original objective, but you can rest assured that it is most definitely not Melanesian.

I know what it is:- it is a keris hilt; I know the approximate area of its origin, and I have given this above; what I do not know---and probably can never know with any certainty--- is what it might represent.

[Tim Simmons]

Alan you clearly have a nose for evaluating art forms.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

Maybe one may consider:

- headband made of rolled cloth and tied at the back is very common in Nusantara (some cloth may give striation/stripey effect)

- actual coloured stripes headbands are more common among sailors

- scrimshaw is common among sailors

- carver may have exercised artistic license in excluding tie-knot

Best.

[A. G. Maisey]

Probably not, Tim. I cannot claim to have any expertise in the evaluation of art, or its forms, in a general sense, however, in the area of keris and keris hilts, I have spent a very long time handling them and have handled and seen a great many. I have a very large collection of keris hilts, and do have a particular interest in this form.

Your suggestions are well taken Pak Amuk, yes, the headband is not uncommon, but I fail to understand the scrimshaw reference. I do not think that seafarers from maritime SE Asia engaged in scrimshaw, and even if they did, this handle is not an example of the craft of scrimshaw.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

Alan, I am sorry for using the term 'scrimshaw' very loosely. I use scrimshaw/whittling to mean carving, scratching, shaping etc. any material.
Sometimes it is not convenient to repair or replace something by going to an expert; one has to rely on what skill is available, especially if one is on a boat, for instance. People in isolation, like sailors at sea, tend to develop muti-skills.

Best.

[A. G. Maisey]

I take your point Pak Amuk.

Yes, a possibility.