keris for comment

Mamat Lombok · 21st November 2009, 10:11 AM

hi all....
i want to share this for comment,
regards,
mamat.

Sajen · 21st November 2009, 03:59 PM

Hello Mamat,

at the first view a attractive keris! But the blade seems to be not a Bali/Lombok keris blade. And the handle I think is a new but a very nice carving. I don't think that the handle is old because I miss the typical cracks you see normally by ivory. What kind of ivory is the handle?

Best,

Detlef

David · 21st November 2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

at the first view a attractive keris! But the blade seems to be not a Bali/Lombok keris blade. And the handle I think is a new but a very nice carving. I don't think that the handle is old because I miss the typical cracks you see normally by ivory. What kind of ivory is the handle?

Is the hilt ivory? I was thinking it looked like some kind of horn.
I agree that this isn't a Bali blade and it doesn't look Lombak to me either.
The sheath is beautiful. Are the fittings gold, plate or some other metal?

Rick · 21st November 2009, 08:22 PM

Looks like some kind of semi precious stone .

Gustav · 21st November 2009, 09:01 PM

May be I am completely wrong, but if there are this spelling (very comfortable) Bali/Lombok blade (in which this blade certainly doesn't fall), there must be also Lombok/Sumbawa and Lombok/Sumbawa/Bugis.

Lombok and Sumbawa has ties also after Mojopahit and Gelgel, which are Bugis and Selaparang.

I think there could be a possibility, a keris with such characteristics would appear in Lombok (even more in Sumbawa).

(I would also like to ask somebody with greater experience (so everybody) about Madura influence on Bugis blades and blades from Sumatra, Lombok and Sumbawa )

A. G. Maisey · 21st November 2009, 11:07 PM

It appears to be generally accepted that there is a wide variety in blade styles that originate from the island of Lombok.

These blades styles are in accordance with the origins of the racial group living on Lombok, from which the blades originate.

The major racial groups living on Lombok are Balinese, Bugis, or Javanese, thus, we can have blade styles that are Balinese, Bugis, or Javanese.

However, these blade styles are often expressed in a uniquely Lombok fashion, and they do often tend towards extreme stylistic espression which sees flamboyant pamor motifs where they logically should not be, and blade styles that contain elements that seem to be out of place or gauche. The examples I have seen of this type of thing remind me of a child playing with an art that he does not understand, and striving to make it as eyecatching as possible.

In respect of this keris, what I think I can see is an old wrongko, at least the gandar is old, the atasan may not be, in spite of the cracked ivory. Over the last 20 or 30 years bride price ivory from the eastern islands has found its way into the hands of carvers in Jawa and Bali and the resultant product when patinated is indistinguishable from a genuine old carving. I believe the gandar to be old, because timoho of this quality simply is not available now --- at least not in my experience. The pendok also looks like older work.

The hilt is current era, and appears to be very good work.

The blade is old, and I could not argue against Lombok as place of origin. It is an Eastern Islands style, but I would accept Lombok as place of origin, in the absence of firm evidence of origin in another place, and as with most keris, I doubt that such evidence will exist.

Based upon what I can see in the photos I would accept this as a Lombok keris, and as one of quite nice overall quality.

21st November 2009, 10:11 AM	#1
Mamat Lombok Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: lombok-indonesia Posts: 66	keris for comment hi all.... i want to share this for comment, regards, mamat. Attached Images

21st November 2009, 09:01 PM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,196	May be I am completely wrong, but if there are this spelling (very comfortable) Bali/Lombok blade (in which this blade certainly doesn't fall), there must be also Lombok/Sumbawa and Lombok/Sumbawa/Bugis. Lombok and Sumbawa has ties also after Mojopahit and Gelgel, which are Bugis and Selaparang. I think there could be a possibility, a keris with such characteristics would appear in Lombok (even more in Sumbawa). (I would also like to ask somebody with greater experience (so everybody) about Madura influence on Bugis blades and blades from Sumatra, Lombok and Sumbawa ) Last edited by Gustav; 21st November 2009 at 10:15 PM.

21st November 2009, 03:59 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,487	Hello Mamat, at the first view a attractive keris! But the blade seems to be not a Bali/Lombok keris blade. And the handle I think is a new but a very nice carving. I don't think that the handle is old because I miss the typical cracks you see normally by ivory. What kind of ivory is the handle? Best, Detlef

21st November 2009, 08:22 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	Looks like some kind of semi precious stone .

21st November 2009, 11:07 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,698	It appears to be generally accepted that there is a wide variety in blade styles that originate from the island of Lombok. These blades styles are in accordance with the origins of the racial group living on Lombok, from which the blades originate. The major racial groups living on Lombok are Balinese, Bugis, or Javanese, thus, we can have blade styles that are Balinese, Bugis, or Javanese. However, these blade styles are often expressed in a uniquely Lombok fashion, and they do often tend towards extreme stylistic espression which sees flamboyant pamor motifs where they logically should not be, and blade styles that contain elements that seem to be out of place or gauche. The examples I have seen of this type of thing remind me of a child playing with an art that he does not understand, and striving to make it as eyecatching as possible. In respect of this keris, what I think I can see is an old wrongko, at least the gandar is old, the atasan may not be, in spite of the cracked ivory. Over the last 20 or 30 years bride price ivory from the eastern islands has found its way into the hands of carvers in Jawa and Bali and the resultant product when patinated is indistinguishable from a genuine old carving. I believe the gandar to be old, because timoho of this quality simply is not available now --- at least not in my experience. The pendok also looks like older work. The hilt is current era, and appears to be very good work. The blade is old, and I could not argue against Lombok as place of origin. It is an Eastern Islands style, but I would accept Lombok as place of origin, in the absence of firm evidence of origin in another place, and as with most keris, I doubt that such evidence will exist. Based upon what I can see in the photos I would accept this as a Lombok keris, and as one of quite nice overall quality.