Silver Keris

[Roland_M]

Hello,

As promised, here is my Silver-Keris. I believe it is a Bali-Keris.

I don't wanna say too much, just listening to the opinions of other collectors.

What I can say is that hilt, scabbard and blade are of good quality. The golden layer on the blade is very thick, around 1/10 mm or more. Thick enough to hide some details of the figurine. Modern gold leaf is between 1/3000 (the thickest type) and 1/9000 mm thick. This means modern gold leaf is around 300 times thinner than this.

Now I'm really interessted, to read some opinions.


Best wishes,
Roland

[Roland_M]

more objects of photography

[Jean]

Hello Roland,
Nice kris but not traditional Balinese IMO, especially the sandang walikat scabbard with added buntut.
Regards

[Jean]

Hello Roland,
The kinatah technique does not use gold leaf.
Regards

[mariusgmioc]

Hello Roland,

I am probably one of the less knowledgeable people here, but to me, this keris looks fairly new.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Jean

Hello Roland,
The kinatah technique does not use gold leaf.
Regards

Hello Jean,

thank you for your opinion, it is helpful for me.

From the Internet: "On blades from Malaysia, Kinatah is a relief decoration on a blade of the highest order."


Regards

[Sajen]

I know and have handled the keris Roland own already longer several times and have Roland always told that this keris is very unusual and don't show traditional Bali work, this for dress and handle. The blade is an other object but in short, it's also not what I would think to see by a good old Bali blade.

Like all can see by the pictures Roland has posted is the quality of the silver work a very good one but I am unsure where done. The motives are like stated from Jean already are not Balinese style. But when you look to the pictures carefully (see in down) you can see the wooden core, the wood is old and very dry, this is nothing what I would to see by a recent worked scabbard. Also the overall impression let me think to see a fairly old piece in all parts in front of me.
By my visit to the Hollenstedt Exhibition I have had the chance to handle to more keris where the scabbard was worked in exactly the same manner, I am sure they coming all from the same workshop. One of this other two pieces has had a similar worked blade like the one from Roland without gandik figure and kinatah, the other one has had a fairly good worked older Bali blade. Also by this both examples was the wooden core visible and show good age. So I think that this pieces get worked wherever as earliest end of 19th century until latest the thirties.
Like said before, I am very very unsure where this three pieces get worked.

[Jean]

Originally Posted by Roland_M

Hello Jean,

thank you for your opinion, it is helpful for me.

From the Internet: "On blades from Malaysia, Kinatah is a relief decoration on a blade of the highest order."


Regards

Hello Roland,
I mean that kinatah is made from gold sheet (thicker than leaf). Yes, original kinatah blades are generally of high quality.
As you have my book you can find a rather similar silver pendok on pic 3.15, page 201.
Regards