Bali Keris Stone Question

Battara · 4th October 2023, 04:59 AM

Greetings folks,

I was wondering if the Balinese ever used star rubies or star sapphires in the dress of their keris'.

A. G. Maisey · 4th October 2023, 11:57 AM

This link will take you to a page in Murni's site, she provides a very clear explanation of the way in which colours are used in decorative & religious art.

https://www.murnis.com/culture/balinese-symbolism/

Rubies are red, so red relates to which deity?

Sapphires come in a multitude of colours, but let's say we are talking common old blue sapphires, star or otherwise, so we look for the colour blue and that tells us the symbolic relationship to a deity.

The three major colours used in traditional ornamentation of a keris are white, red, black. The colours need not be a pure post-box red, but can be within the red spectrum of colours, and in some cases other colours may be substituted for the major symbolic colour.

Scroll down to the Mandala.

Further, the stones need not be natural, this is not important in the context of symbolism.

Battara · 4th October 2023, 08:20 PM

Thank you Alan so much. Lots of good info at this site.

A. G. Maisey · 4th October 2023, 08:30 PM

Yes, and as an added bonus we get something that is increasingly rare for much online info:- that info is correct.

David · 10th October 2023, 07:23 PM

This site does indeed have very useful information, but i i am not sure that the original question has been answered.
We know that red is on of the three main colours used for keris ornamentation, but the question specifically mentions STAR rubies. While i have seen red rubies (as well as other red stones, glass and pastes) used in old Bali dress, i am not sure if i have ever seen STAR ruby used in old dress. Does anyone have any examples to show?

A. G. Maisey · 10th October 2023, 08:48 PM

There would be no differentiation between any red coloured stone, star rubies are still red, so are garnets, agates, spinels, glass & plastic, the choice would be made upon availability of stones, personal preference & budget.

There would be absolutely no reason not to use a star ruby, if one was available, if the person concerned wanted it, & the money was available.

Colour is the dominant criterion.

There is a black stone that in Bali is called "Black Star" & "Black Star Sapphire", it is aluminium oxide, and quite cheap, this stone is sometimes used in keris dress & other places where a black stone is required.

I have not seen a red star sapphire used specifically in keris dress, but there are many things that do exist that I have not seen.

4th October 2023, 04:59 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Bali Keris Stone Question Greetings folks, I was wondering if the Balinese ever used star rubies or star sapphires in the dress of their keris'.

4th October 2023, 11:57 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,719	This link will take you to a page in Murni's site, she provides a very clear explanation of the way in which colours are used in decorative & religious art. https://www.murnis.com/culture/balinese-symbolism/ Rubies are red, so red relates to which deity? Sapphires come in a multitude of colours, but let's say we are talking common old blue sapphires, star or otherwise, so we look for the colour blue and that tells us the symbolic relationship to a deity. The three major colours used in traditional ornamentation of a keris are white, red, black. The colours need not be a pure post-box red, but can be within the red spectrum of colours, and in some cases other colours may be substituted for the major symbolic colour. Scroll down to the Mandala. Further, the stones need not be natural, this is not important in the context of symbolism.

4th October 2023, 08:20 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Thank you Alan so much. Lots of good info at this site.

4th October 2023, 08:30 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,719	Yes, and as an added bonus we get something that is increasingly rare for much online info:- that info is correct.

10th October 2023, 07:23 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,040	This site does indeed have very useful information, but i i am not sure that the original question has been answered. We know that red is on of the three main colours used for keris ornamentation, but the question specifically mentions STAR rubies. While i have seen red rubies (as well as other red stones, glass and pastes) used in old Bali dress, i am not sure if i have ever seen STAR ruby used in old dress. Does anyone have any examples to show?

10th October 2023, 08:48 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,719	There would be no differentiation between any red coloured stone, star rubies are still red, so are garnets, agates, spinels, glass & plastic, the choice would be made upon availability of stones, personal preference & budget. There would be absolutely no reason not to use a star ruby, if one was available, if the person concerned wanted it, & the money was available. Colour is the dominant criterion. There is a black stone that in Bali is called "Black Star" & "Black Star Sapphire", it is aluminium oxide, and quite cheap, this stone is sometimes used in keris dress & other places where a black stone is required. I have not seen a red star sapphire used specifically in keris dress, but there are many things that do exist that I have not seen.