A bronze Keris hilt - help needed to identify figure etc.

Loedjoe · 5th June 2019, 04:27 PM

Bronze keris hilt, perhaps Javanese? 8 cm. Does it depict a priest or deity?
The right hand pointing upwards, resembling the Buddhistic 'Gesture of Protection' (abhaya). The left hand pointing downwards in a similar gesture; an elephant depicted at the base, on the front.
Any information from some of the many experts on the Forum would be welcome.

kai · 5th June 2019, 06:43 PM

Hello Tim,

that's an unusual piece - certainly looks like a keris hilt!

Could you please post pics from all sides for a better appraisal?

Regards,
Kai

Jean · 7th June 2019, 09:20 AM

I have no clue but it looks a very old and rare piece and probably javanese indeed.
Congratulations and best regards

A. G. Maisey · 7th June 2019, 12:48 PM

I also cannot assist Tim, however, even though this hand position does resemble one or more Buddhist hand positions, I suspect it could be that to attach this hilt to a Buddhist relationship + a keris relationship might be the wrong way to go.

I have never seen representations of keris, nor of keris-like objects in a Buddhist setting, and since the keris is a symbol of Siwa, this is totally understandable.

So, if we opt for a Buddhist relationship we probably should remove the keris from the equation. Some other type of weapon, or even object, but not a keris.

Similarly, if we opt for a keris relationship maybe Buddha has got to leave the room.

We have an elephant + some other animal. Do we know what the other animal is?

If we were to understand the hand position as a Hindu, what might we be looking at?

Jean · 7th June 2019, 08:59 PM

The face rather looks like a Hindu demon with bulging eyes than a Buddhist figure.
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 7th June 2019, 10:31 PM

Are fangs visible?

Even very small rudimentary ones would do, but unless we have those we cannot begin to think "raksasa".

5th June 2019, 04:27 PM	#1
Loedjoe Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Oxford (UK) Posts: 96	A bronze Keris hilt - help needed to identify figure etc. Bronze keris hilt, perhaps Javanese? 8 cm. Does it depict a priest or deity? The right hand pointing upwards, resembling the Buddhistic 'Gesture of Protection' (abhaya). The left hand pointing downwards in a similar gesture; an elephant depicted at the base, on the front. Any information from some of the many experts on the Forum would be welcome. Attached Images

7th June 2019, 08:59 PM	#5
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	The face rather looks like a Hindu demon with bulging eyes than a Buddhist figure. Regards Last edited by Jean; 8th June 2019 at 02:07 PM.

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5th June 2019, 06:43 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,215	Hello Tim, that's an unusual piece - certainly looks like a keris hilt! Could you please post pics from all sides for a better appraisal? Regards, Kai

7th June 2019, 09:20 AM	#3
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	I have no clue but it looks a very old and rare piece and probably javanese indeed. Congratulations and best regards

7th June 2019, 12:48 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	I also cannot assist Tim, however, even though this hand position does resemble one or more Buddhist hand positions, I suspect it could be that to attach this hilt to a Buddhist relationship + a keris relationship might be the wrong way to go. I have never seen representations of keris, nor of keris-like objects in a Buddhist setting, and since the keris is a symbol of Siwa, this is totally understandable. So, if we opt for a Buddhist relationship we probably should remove the keris from the equation. Some other type of weapon, or even object, but not a keris. Similarly, if we opt for a keris relationship maybe Buddha has got to leave the room. We have an elephant + some other animal. Do we know what the other animal is? If we were to understand the hand position as a Hindu, what might we be looking at?

7th June 2019, 10:31 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	Are fangs visible? Even very small rudimentary ones would do, but unless we have those we cannot begin to think "raksasa".