Appreciation of a Bugis kind

BluErf · 20th October 2008, 04:51 PM

I give my thanks to Alan.

The blade is just shy of 13.5 inches. The width at the base of the blade where it meets the ganja is about 2.1 inches. Entire keris in sheath is about 17.7 inches long.

As to the Kelantan/Terengganu attribution, I must say that the sheath is very similar to some Sumatran examples. I attach pictures of 2 of the closest types for comparison.

Kelantan/Terengganu versions of this sheath form tend to be proportionally flatter than their Sumatran cousins. They also tend to be "boxier" in form, especially on the left-hand side (the lower left corner is more pronounced, less rounded). The 2 tips of the sampir (daunan) also tend to curve inwards to a lesser extent. You may have noticed that the first Sumatran keris seemed to be boxier, but you'd also notice that it is a lot broader - too broad for N Peninsula. This type is closer to the 'chieftain' style sheaths we commonly see from Sumatra.

Another identifying mark is the nature of the kemuning. N. Peninsula kemuning are more 'figured', with more patches of dark colouration on top of the regular golden brown colour. In contrast, Sumatran kemuning are a lot more homogenous, and tend to have wider bands of chatoyance. The first Sumatran keris below seemed to have such dark patching, but that is just an illusion - the sampir has a big crack across the front, and it has absorbed some oil through the crack, resulting in differential colour tones. Another clue is the tighter grains and more obvious white lines in the kumuning for N Peninsula kemuning. I reckon these differences in kemuning is attributable to differences in growing environment. Perhaps those kemuning in N Peninsula are subject to harsher growing conditions, hence, tighter grains (due to slower growth).

Beyond these features, which are readily described, there is also the 'feel' of the work. As I had mentioned before, the "air tangan" (literally "hand water") imparts a subtle sense of aesthetics that differentiates the work of tukang from the 2 regions. This one area can't be taught through words alone. One have to look at and handle numerous examples. And where you do that, you have to be sure that the kerises you're looking at are almost always from that region (e.g. going to Kelantan and Terengganu to look at Kelantanese/Terengganu kerises). Or else, you risk getting the wrong aesthetics ingrained into yourself.

Hope this helps. When I have time, I'd search for pictures of other Terengganu sheaths of this form for comparison.

PenangsangII · 21st October 2008, 04:16 AM

hi all!!!
Blue, what about the blade? Is it original Bugis influenced peninsular piece or from other islands of the archipelago?

BluErf · 21st October 2008, 04:19 PM

The Bugis were on both sides of the straits of Malacca, so this blade could have been forged on either side. The feel of the blade is rather different from blades forged by Malays, but Bugis influenced. So I'd say this is a Bugis blade.

Here's another Terengganu sepokal, but with a small Malay blade.

BluErf · 21st October 2008, 04:28 PM

For comparison, a Bugis sepokal, very similar to the title keris here, but dressed in Sumatra.

Btw, I have the hilt of this keris. May I know if any forum member has the rest of the keris, or know the whereabouts of the keris please!?

BluErf · 21st October 2008, 04:31 PM

And as promised, here're some pics of another Terengganu keris with sheath form similar to mine. But this particular example is top-of-class! Not my keris, sadly...

A. G. Maisey · 21st October 2008, 07:15 PM

In Jawa the classification of Bugis is reserved for blades that give an overall impression of form (pawakan) that is similar to a young bambu shoot, and that have flat faces with a bevel that declines sharply to the edge.

If these two indicators exist the blade is very probably going to be classified as a Bugis blade. There are a number of other indicators, and these can influence a final decision, but without the two I have mentioned, a blade will not be classified as Bugis, or more correctly, it may be classified as a sub-classification of Bugis, such as Bugis-Sumbawa, Bugis-Sumba, Bugis-Melayu, etc.

VVV · 21st October 2008, 09:24 PM

Alan,

Are there really Bugis Keris in Sumba, or do you mean Sumbawa?
I didn't know that they hade any keris culture there at all?
If Sumba, do you have any reference pictures.

Michael

20th October 2008, 04:51 PM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I give my thanks to Alan. The blade is just shy of 13.5 inches. The width at the base of the blade where it meets the ganja is about 2.1 inches. Entire keris in sheath is about 17.7 inches long. As to the Kelantan/Terengganu attribution, I must say that the sheath is very similar to some Sumatran examples. I attach pictures of 2 of the closest types for comparison. Kelantan/Terengganu versions of this sheath form tend to be proportionally flatter than their Sumatran cousins. They also tend to be "boxier" in form, especially on the left-hand side (the lower left corner is more pronounced, less rounded). The 2 tips of the sampir (daunan) also tend to curve inwards to a lesser extent. You may have noticed that the first Sumatran keris seemed to be boxier, but you'd also notice that it is a lot broader - too broad for N Peninsula. This type is closer to the 'chieftain' style sheaths we commonly see from Sumatra. Another identifying mark is the nature of the kemuning. N. Peninsula kemuning are more 'figured', with more patches of dark colouration on top of the regular golden brown colour. In contrast, Sumatran kemuning are a lot more homogenous, and tend to have wider bands of chatoyance. The first Sumatran keris below seemed to have such dark patching, but that is just an illusion - the sampir has a big crack across the front, and it has absorbed some oil through the crack, resulting in differential colour tones. Another clue is the tighter grains and more obvious white lines in the kumuning for N Peninsula kemuning. I reckon these differences in kemuning is attributable to differences in growing environment. Perhaps those kemuning in N Peninsula are subject to harsher growing conditions, hence, tighter grains (due to slower growth). Beyond these features, which are readily described, there is also the 'feel' of the work. As I had mentioned before, the "air tangan" (literally "hand water") imparts a subtle sense of aesthetics that differentiates the work of tukang from the 2 regions. This one area can't be taught through words alone. One have to look at and handle numerous examples. And where you do that, you have to be sure that the kerises you're looking at are almost always from that region (e.g. going to Kelantan and Terengganu to look at Kelantanese/Terengganu kerises). Or else, you risk getting the wrong aesthetics ingrained into yourself. Hope this helps. When I have time, I'd search for pictures of other Terengganu sheaths of this form for comparison. Attached Images

21st October 2008, 04:19 PM	#3
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The Bugis were on both sides of the straits of Malacca, so this blade could have been forged on either side. The feel of the blade is rather different from blades forged by Malays, but Bugis influenced. So I'd say this is a Bugis blade. Here's another Terengganu sepokal, but with a small Malay blade. Attached Images

21st October 2008, 04:28 PM	#4
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	For comparison, a Bugis sepokal, very similar to the title keris here, but dressed in Sumatra. Btw, I have the hilt of this keris. May I know if any forum member has the rest of the keris, or know the whereabouts of the keris please!? Attached Images

21st October 2008, 04:31 PM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	And as promised, here're some pics of another Terengganu keris with sheath form similar to mine. But this particular example is top-of-class! Not my keris, sadly... Attached Images

21st October 2008, 04:16 AM	#2
PenangsangII Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 401	hi all!!! Blue, what about the blade? Is it original Bugis influenced peninsular piece or from other islands of the archipelago?

21st October 2008, 07:15 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	In Jawa the classification of Bugis is reserved for blades that give an overall impression of form (pawakan) that is similar to a young bambu shoot, and that have flat faces with a bevel that declines sharply to the edge. If these two indicators exist the blade is very probably going to be classified as a Bugis blade. There are a number of other indicators, and these can influence a final decision, but without the two I have mentioned, a blade will not be classified as Bugis, or more correctly, it may be classified as a sub-classification of Bugis, such as Bugis-Sumbawa, Bugis-Sumba, Bugis-Melayu, etc.

21st October 2008, 09:24 PM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Alan, Are there really Bugis Keris in Sumba, or do you mean Sumbawa? I didn't know that they hade any keris culture there at all? If Sumba, do you have any reference pictures. Michael