MADURA ornamental hilts

[David]

I believe i showed some of these before, but in a different context.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by David

I believe i showed some of these before, but in a different context.

The horse-hilt in your first pic is unique, David... And I think, the last hilt in your last pic is ivory, isn't it? (Below, another pics on Madura hilt and sheath. A madurese mediium-size keris, with maduran gayaman -- madura people call it "gabilahan". Flying horse -- kuda panolih -- ornaments in both, the hilt and also in the gabilahan sheath).

[ganjawulung]

"Kuda Panolih" is the name of Sumenep kingdom's symbol. It depicts a flying horse -- in the Maduran mythology, it is the horse of Joko Thole (a Maduran army commander in the past). And the name of the horse is "Megaremeng" (cloudy sky). Joko Thole had a sibbling brother, named Banyek Wedi then became a nobleman in Gresik, East Java. That is mythology, of course.

[ganjawulung]

This is another motif of "kuda panolih" with "crown" above the horse. Also, kuda panolih motif in the hilt...

[David]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

The horse-hilt in your first pic is unique, David... And I think, the last hilt in your last pic is ivory, isn't it?

Ganja, every time i look on the forum my photos seem to change order of appearance. Right now the ivory hilt is posted first.
There are 2 horse hilts. One is bone and the other is wood. I don't think the wood one is unique because i have seen the same pattern before, though i don't think those were executed as nicely as this one. There is a lot of fine detailed carving on this one with many areas of through and through carving that are very skillfully done.
Your last ivory hilt is quite appealing to me. Thanks for posting.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by David

There are 2 horse hilts. One is bone and the other is wood. I don't think the wood one is unique because i have seen the same pattern before, though i don't think those were executed as nicely as this one. There is a lot of fine detailed carving on this one with many areas of through and through carving that are very skillfully done.

David, your first horse-hilt looks like Bali "kocet-kocetan". But the second, I think it depicts "megaremeng" -- the flying horse of the Madura legend, Joko Thole. Pls regard the horse's wing carving... Usualy, "megaremeng" only carved in "kuda panolih" symbol...

[David]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

David, your first horse-hilt looks like Bali "kocet-kocetan". But the second, I think it depicts "megaremeng" -- the flying horse of the Madura legend, Joko Thole. Pls regard the horse's wing carving... Usualy, "megaremeng" only carved in "kuda panolih" symbol...

Well, the bone one certainly isn't from Bali and i am pretty sure it is meant to be a horse, not a kocet-kocetan.
If you look around the base of the bone horse you can see the same circular designs that are around the base on the wood hilt.
I have indeed noticed the stylized wings on the wooden horse hilt and agree that it is meant to be a flying horse.

[A. G. Maisey]

Hilt # 7 does have a similar profile to the Ganesha hilts from Cirebon, but that's where it stops. I cannot find anything in the motif detail that indicates that there was an intent to create a Ganesha.

I haven't seen a Janggelan with stars. Unusual.

[ganjawulung]

Another example of a madura hilt, with rather unordinary motif... (Quite similar to David's hilt in #41)