Terengganu Malela with inserted metal

VVV · 25th February 2009, 09:32 PM

This keris has both unusual features for a malela as well as some odd metal inserted at the "sorsoran".
It's not a replaced tang but something else.
Maybe a piece of talismanic/blessed metal or any other ideas?

Michael

Lew · 25th February 2009, 09:39 PM

Sweet!

Congrats

Lew

David · 25th February 2009, 09:44 PM

Oh, now that's very pretty.

My guess would also be that there is talismanic intent here.

Jussi M. · 25th February 2009, 10:21 PM

This really is a very beautiful keris. I like it a lot.

ferrylaki · 26th February 2009, 01:23 AM

Looking at the surface of this keris. wanderfull

Sajen · 26th February 2009, 01:57 AM

Hi Michael,
a real beauty! My guess is also that it is a talismanic insert or an old repair from an blowhole.

Congrats for this very nice keris,
sajen

danny1976 · 26th February 2009, 03:49 PM

Hi Michael,

Nice one !

The blade is very wel conserved.

Maybe the ''insert'' is something like a tambal , a piece of a older or family blade?

I.m just shouting something but this is what was on my mind

Danny

asomotif · 26th February 2009, 04:26 PM

Michael,

Very nice keris.

Can you see the tang / ie. is the handle removable ?

Best regards
Willem

VVV · 28th February 2009, 08:03 PM

Thanks all,

Any other ideas?
Willem, the sturdy tang is visible when I remove the hilt.

Michael

Alam Shah · 17th March 2009, 12:29 PM

Hi Michael,

Sorry for not updating you on this piece, earlier. When I showed pics of this blade to friends whom attended the keris seminar and workshop @ Universiti Malaya (UM), there's no clear indication.. what was confirmed was that it's a malela blade, the dressing is typical Terengganu-styled.

From the blade material, it is not too old, no earlier than 20thC works, probably later.. Unfortunately, many were unwilling to give an opinion based on pictures alone.. as other aspects are not being abled to be determined.

Shahrial

A. G. Maisey · 17th March 2009, 12:53 PM

Michael, I noted this thread a few weeks ago, but at the time was in a situation where I could not post to the Forum.

It is difficult to give an iron-clad opinion based on a photo, but what immediately catches my eye is the apparent flaw in the opposite side of the blade to the side with the inset. This flaw appears to correspond in position to the area with the inset. From what I can see here, I'm inclined to think this inset is a repair intended to strengthen the flawed area.

VVV · 17th March 2009, 05:58 PM

Thanks both for the added information!

I also guessed that it wasn't that old. But older than 21th C.

On the flaw/inset they don't exactly correspond IRL in position.
But the top flaw is very close to the top 1/3 part of the inset.
The lower flaws/dents don't correspond at all.
Do you have any theories how a flaw like this occured?
I assume it was after it was manufactured?

Michael

Sajen · 17th March 2009, 06:10 PM

Hello Michael,
maybe like my guess at first view, a blowhole?
Regards,
sajen

asomotif · 17th March 2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

20thC works or later

later than 20th Century... Is the iron still hot ?

Quote:

blowhole

Detlef, what do you mean by a blowhole ?

Ps. I can imagine that during forging some flaws may occur and than you can of course decide to make some repair when this occurs in a stage where the product is already near its final form/shape.
But than is looks like the only flaw in this blade.
I really like the shape.

A. G. Maisey · 17th March 2009, 11:52 PM

Michael, the flaws do not need to exactly correspond. A flaw can occur through the blade at an agle. If the one on the reverse side is even close to the patch, then for me, this would be a good enough indication of a flaw that occurred during manufacture.

I also do not understand "blow hole".
Flaws can occur for several reasons, mostly either a cold shut when welding, or because of a degree of hotshortness in the material. Whatever caused it is not important:- its there, so can it be fixed? That is what the maker---or maybe owner would have asked himself. This inlay, or inset, or patch or whatever you like to call it, would probably serve the purpose.

Sajen · 18th March 2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

later than 20th Century... Is the iron still hot ?

Detlef, what do you mean by a blowhole ?

Ps. I can imagine that during forging some flaws may occur and than you can of course decide to make some repair when this occurs in a stage where the product is already near its final form/shape.
But than is looks like the only flaw in this blade.
I really like the shape.

Hello Willem,
sorry for misunderstanding, I've used an online-dictionary. I mean a forge mistake. Maybe a inclusion from cinder. Nearly the same guess as Mr. Maisey mentioned.
sajen

VVV · 18th March 2009, 08:25 AM

Thanks Alan for the explanation on manufacture flaws.
I also didn't get Detlef's blow hole first.
I thought it was related to the esoteric peeping-hole in some Javanese keris

Michael

25th February 2009, 09:32 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Terengganu Malela with inserted metal This keris has both unusual features for a malela as well as some odd metal inserted at the "sorsoran". It's not a replaced tang but something else. Maybe a piece of talismanic/blessed metal or any other ideas? Michael Attached Images

17th March 2009, 12:29 PM	#10
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Hi Michael, Sorry for not updating you on this piece, earlier. When I showed pics of this blade to friends whom attended the keris seminar and workshop @ Universiti Malaya (UM), there's no clear indication.. what was confirmed was that it's a malela blade, the dressing is typical Terengganu-styled. From the blade material, it is not too old, no earlier than 20thC works, probably later.. Unfortunately, many were unwilling to give an opinion based on pictures alone.. as other aspects are not being abled to be determined. Shahrial Last edited by Alam Shah; 18th March 2009 at 11:07 AM. Reason: grammar

25th February 2009, 09:39 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Sweet! Congrats Lew

25th February 2009, 09:44 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,023	Oh, now that's very pretty. My guess would also be that there is talismanic intent here.

25th February 2009, 10:21 PM	#4
Jussi M. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 235	This really is a very beautiful keris. I like it a lot.

26th February 2009, 01:23 AM	#5
ferrylaki Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 285	Looking at the surface of this keris. wanderfull

26th February 2009, 01:57 AM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Hi Michael, a real beauty! My guess is also that it is a talismanic insert or an old repair from an blowhole. Congrats for this very nice keris, sajen

26th February 2009, 03:49 PM	#7
danny1976 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holland Posts: 232	Hi Michael, Nice one ! The blade is very wel conserved. Maybe the ''insert'' is something like a tambal , a piece of a older or family blade? I.m just shouting something but this is what was on my mind Danny

26th February 2009, 04:26 PM	#8
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	Michael, Very nice keris. Can you see the tang / ie. is the handle removable ? Best regards Willem

28th February 2009, 08:03 PM	#9
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks all, Any other ideas? Willem, the sturdy tang is visible when I remove the hilt. Michael

17th March 2009, 12:53 PM	#11
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	Michael, I noted this thread a few weeks ago, but at the time was in a situation where I could not post to the Forum. It is difficult to give an iron-clad opinion based on a photo, but what immediately catches my eye is the apparent flaw in the opposite side of the blade to the side with the inset. This flaw appears to correspond in position to the area with the inset. From what I can see here, I'm inclined to think this inset is a repair intended to strengthen the flawed area.

17th March 2009, 05:58 PM	#12
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks both for the added information! I also guessed that it wasn't that old. But older than 21th C. On the flaw/inset they don't exactly correspond IRL in position. But the top flaw is very close to the top 1/3 part of the inset. The lower flaws/dents don't correspond at all. Do you have any theories how a flaw like this occured? I assume it was after it was manufactured? Michael

17th March 2009, 06:10 PM	#13
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,468	Hello Michael, maybe like my guess at first view, a blowhole? Regards, sajen

17th March 2009, 11:52 PM	#15
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	Michael, the flaws do not need to exactly correspond. A flaw can occur through the blade at an agle. If the one on the reverse side is even close to the patch, then for me, this would be a good enough indication of a flaw that occurred during manufacture. I also do not understand "blow hole". Flaws can occur for several reasons, mostly either a cold shut when welding, or because of a degree of hotshortness in the material. Whatever caused it is not important:- its there, so can it be fixed? That is what the maker---or maybe owner would have asked himself. This inlay, or inset, or patch or whatever you like to call it, would probably serve the purpose.

18th March 2009, 08:25 AM	#17
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Alan for the explanation on manufacture flaws. I also didn't get Detlef's blow hole first. I thought it was related to the esoteric peeping-hole in some Javanese keris Michael