Bali Keris Update, 1 of 2

[S.Workman]

Here is my first keris, updated from the work I did this weekend. This particular one did not respond to the arsenic treatment especially, perhaps not at all. It did get a bit of definition by preparing it in vinegar for a week. One of the strange side effects of this keris is that it really sort of oozes rust in a fine layer from pores in the blade surface. I wonder if the whole thing is riddled with oxidized metal veins. If so, they are thread thin, since I have really worked the blade over for rust several times, but the stuff keeps coming. Any way, here is the blade and a closeup of the tip, showing the pattern.
Again, I am really new to the world of the keris, and while I have of course rushed off and picked up some very well illustrated reference works, I don't know that much about keris. So, if anyone has any information about this keris, such as the name for this pamor and dapur, I would really like to hear it. The keris was sold to me as a Keris Bali, does that seem accurate, and has the revelation of the pamor changed that possibility? I am all ears! Thanks very much for looking.

[kai]

Here is my first keris, updated from the work I did this weekend. This particular one did not respond to the arsenic treatment especially, perhaps not at all. It did get a bit of definition by preparing it in vinegar for a week.

It certainly did respond to the treatment! It is well possible that more rounds of treatment will enhance the result. Also extensively polishing the blade by hand and subsequent etch/warangan will probably yield a somewhat better contrast (at the cost of considerable loss of metal). However, considering the average quality of the blade, I'd probably call it a day and keep it as is. Certainly a good addition to any starting collection!

The keris was sold to me as a Keris Bali, does that seem accurate, and has the revelation of the pamor changed that possibility?

I don't think so. It's a fairly simple blade that never was intended to be up to kraton standards; still it shows decent features - I've seen much worse keris blades where a village smith was apparently working at his limits...

I don't see any hints that would suggest that this blade doesn't come from Bali (or the areas on Lombok ruled by Bali). Granted, there is a possibility that it might be E Jawa or even from the Bali expat community on Madura; these tend to come with different hilts though.

If you go by the quacking duck rule, this is a perfectly decent keris in Bali style and Bali fittings that probably once was owned by a not too poor farmer or other average populace.

Regards,
Kai

[S.Workman]

Thanks for your comments Kai. I am actually very pleased with the idea of this keris getting battered through its life by being lugged around by someone who lived an outdoor life. While of course I have nothing against kraton work, the keris that I like the most are the simple and soldierly ones. Do you know of a good source for determining the name of the dapur?

[ganjawulung]

Dear Workman,

I am more inclined to see this as a Lombok keris, with its keris hilt also typical style of Lombok called "Cenangan". It looked like a form of "Gerantim" but Gerantim always with gold windings (very rare specimens). And indeed Gerantim destined the owner of nobility rank in Lombok..

Keris Lombok and its accessories, generally it resembles Balinese keris. And it's not surprising, because there is a closeness between the history of Bali in the era of kingdoms, with Lombok.

Regards,
Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

I feel that the results achieved in restoration of this keris are better than acceptable, and probably about as good as could be expected, given the condition of the blade prior to the clean & stain, and the type of material used in its construction.

You have done a very good job Mr. Workman.

It is a Bali style blade, but there is no way of knowing if it was made in Bali, or in Lombok. Bali had a colony on Lombok that had close ties with Klungkung. Some later Balinese - Lombok keris had a tendency to be a little bit extreme in style, and to vary from the recognised Balinese norm, whilst still retaining the Balinese style, but this is a simple keris, and it could have been produced in either Bali or Lombok.

It should be noted that all Lombok keris are not necessarily of the Balinese form. Lombok was settled and developed by people from various societies, and each of these societal groups had their own form of keris dress.

This hilt form is known as "Loncengan" in both Bali and Lombok.

The Loncengan hilt and the "Cenangan" hilt are very similar, and the Loncengan hilts that are not bound with hair or twine are called Cenangan by some people, however, if a hilt has this form, and it is bound with hair or twine, it appears to be correct to refer to it as Loncengan in both Bali and in Lombok. The differences between the two types, Loncengan and Cenangan, are often slight and not all that easy to see.This similarity in form is also found with the Gerantim and the Cenangan hilts:- both are very similar in form, but as has already been mentioned, the Gerantim used precious metals and was the prerogative of the aristocracy.

In previous times the Loncengan hilt style was normally paired with a Kajongan wrongko, and was considered to be a style of dress suitable for a young man.

My terminology is from personal informants, but their information agrees with both Djelenga and Neka/Yuwono.

In Bali and in the Balinese societies that took root in Lombok, the center of power was not a Kraton, but a Pura, the dwelling place of the ruler. "Kraton", including all variations in spelling, is a Javanese term, not Balinese, the term for the dwelling place of a Balinese ruler is Puri. "Puri" is also used to refer to a temple.

In the case of Javanese social structure, the Kraton absorbed the empus who worked for the Kraton, into Kraton society and accorded them rank within the Kraton hierarchy. In the case of Balinese social structure, the Pandes remained separate from, and outside of, the inner society of the ruler's Puri. When a ruler required a particular pande to work for him, the pande would be called to the Puri and given instructions for the required job.

The members of the Pande Clan in Bali are to a degree a separate group living within the greater society, but observing their own religious traditions, and with their own priests.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I feel that the results achieved in restoration of this keris are better than acceptable, and probably about as good as could be expected, given the condition of the blade prior to the clean & stain, and the type of material used in its construction.

You have done a very good job Mr. Workman.

Full agreement! Very good job. Some blades just don't have a strong contrast like the other blade you have stained.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

It is a Bali style blade, but there is no way of knowing if it was made in Bali, or in Lombok. Bali had a colony on Lombok that had close ties with Klungkung. Some later Balinese - Lombok keris had a tendency to be a little bit extreme in style, and to vary from the recognised Balinese norm, whilst still retaining the Balinese style, but this is a simple keris, and it could have been produced in either Bali or Lombok.

It should be noted that all Lombok keris are not necessarily of the Balinese form. Lombok was settled and developed by people from various societies, and each of these societal groups had their own form of keris dress.

This hilt form is known as "Loncengan" in both Bali and Lombok.

The Loncengan hilt and the "Cenangan" hilt are very similar, and the Loncengan hilts that are not bound with hair or twine are called Cenangan by some people, however, if a hilt has this form, and it is bound with hair or twine, it appears to be correct to refer to it as Loncengan in both Bali and in Lombok. The differences between the two types, Loncengan and Cenangan, are often slight and not all that easy to see.This similarity in form is also found with the Gerantim and the Cenangan hilts:- both are very similar in form, but as has already been mentioned, the Gerantim used precious metals and was the prerogative of the aristocracy.

In previous times the Loncengan hilt style was normally paired with a Kajongan wrongko, and was considered to be a style of dress suitable for a young man.

My terminology is from personal informants, but their information agrees with both Djelenga and Neka/Yuwono.

In Bali and in the Balinese societies that took root in Lombok, the center of power was not a Kraton, but a Pura, the dwelling place of the ruler. "Kraton", including all variations in spelling, is a Javanese term, not Balinese, the term for the dwelling place of a Balinese ruler is Puri. "Puri" is also used to refer to a temple.

In the case of Javanese social structure, the Kraton absorbed the empus who worked for the Kraton, into Kraton society and accorded them rank within the Kraton hierarchy. In the case of Balinese social structure, the Pandes remained separate from, and outside of, the inner society of the ruler's Puri. When a ruler required a particular pande to work for him, the pande would be called to the Puri and given instructions for the required job.

The members of the Pande Clan in Bali are to a degree a separate group living within the greater society, but observing their own religious traditions, and with their own priests.

Great informations! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with us.

Regards,
Detlef

[Jean]

Assuming that this is a kris from Lombok and according to Lalu Djelenga, the dapur name should be Demung (kembang kacang, jenggot, lambe gajah, pejetan, full greneng). If from Bali, it would be different...
Regards

[S.Workman]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I feel that the results achieved in restoration of this keris are better than acceptable, and probably about as good as could be expected, given the condition of the blade prior to the clean & stain, and the type of material used in its construction.

You have done a very good job Mr. Workman.

It is a Bali style blade, but there is no way of knowing if it was made in Bali, or in Lombok. Bali had a colony on Lombok that had close ties with Klungkung. Some later Balinese - Lombok keris had a tendency to be a little bit extreme in style, and to vary from the recognised Balinese norm, whilst still retaining the Balinese style, but this is a simple keris, and it could have been produced in either Bali or Lombok.

It should be noted that all Lombok keris are not necessarily of the Balinese form. Lombok was settled and developed by people from various societies, and each of these societal groups had their own form of keris dress.

This hilt form is known as "Loncengan" in both Bali and Lombok.

The Loncengan hilt and the "Cenangan" hilt are very similar, and the Loncengan hilts that are not bound with hair or twine are called Cenangan by some people, however, if a hilt has this form, and it is bound with hair or twine, it appears to be correct to refer to it as Loncengan in both Bali and in Lombok. The differences between the two types, Loncengan and Cenangan, are often slight and not all that easy to see.This similarity in form is also found with the Gerantim and the Cenangan hilts:- both are very similar in form, but as has already been mentioned, the Gerantim used precious metals and was the prerogative of the aristocracy.

In previous times the Loncengan hilt style was normally paired with a Kajongan wrongko, and was considered to be a style of dress suitable for a young man.

My terminology is from personal informants, but their information agrees with both Djelenga and Neka/Yuwono.

In Bali and in the Balinese societies that took root in Lombok, the center of power was not a Kraton, but a Pura, the dwelling place of the ruler. "Kraton", including all variations in spelling, is a Javanese term, not Balinese, the term for the dwelling place of a Balinese ruler is Puri. "Puri" is also used to refer to a temple.

In the case of Javanese social structure, the Kraton absorbed the empus who worked for the Kraton, into Kraton society and accorded them rank within the Kraton hierarchy. In the case of Balinese social structure, the Pandes remained separate from, and outside of, the inner society of the ruler's Puri. When a ruler required a particular pande to work for him, the pande would be called to the Puri and given instructions for the required job.

The members of the Pande Clan in Bali are to a degree a separate group living within the greater society, but observing their own religious traditions, and with their own priests.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reflect on this keris, it is much appreciated. Does the difference in court arrangement and the semi excluded position of the pande have a basis in caste system? Or did they perhaps favor the role, since it kept their metalworking secrets to themselves?