Bali Keris, original stain and other comments

asomotif · 28th June 2010, 12:58 AM

Hello folks,

I managed to pick up this Bali keris pure on esthetics and personal taste.
Now I would like to check a few things.

- It looks original stain to me. am I right ?

- there are some markings on the ganja. the seem deliberate to me.
Do they have a meaning or purpose.

- Is there any indication on age ?

Thanks for any input,

Best regards,
Willem

kai · 29th June 2010, 09:52 AM

Hello Willem,

Yes, looks like original Balinese warangan treatment to me, too.

I don't doubt that the blade is antique. The long part of the ganja looks a bit shortened.

Have you a close-up of those 2 triple marks close to the pesi? Are these also present on the other side of the blade? The marks on top of the ganja are even more weird... Congrats - nice acquisition!

Regards,
Kai

kai · 29th June 2010, 09:54 AM

BTW, the tip of the scabbard looks like a later repair to me.

asomotif · 29th June 2010, 11:48 AM

Hello Kai,

I will try to make some better pictures of the triple markings.
To be honest, I noticed them only on the pictures after I posted them.

I also have the idea that the ganja is missing a litlle part. Maybe once bended and broken in the past.

The scabbard tip looks original to me.
The very subtle wood on the front is an inlay, so that is why it ends in a straight line at the bottom.

Best regards,
Willem

Lew · 29th June 2010, 12:15 PM

Willem

When was the last time blades were actually made on Bali 1950s-70? blade could be early to mid 20th century. Anyway it's real nice.

Lew

David · 29th June 2010, 01:02 PM

I also think this is an old Bali blade, probably 19th century, with an old Bali stain. The tip of the scabbard doesn't look like a repair to me. It is very common for there to be a nice piece of patterned wood inlaid into to front of the stem like this.
I agree that the gonjo looks a bit short, though i cannot tell from the photos if it has been shortened or just made this way. The markings are unusual and very interesting and i would think most definitely intentional. No clue as to way though.

Lew, i could be wrong, but i don't think there has been much keris production in Bali post WWII. All those contemporary "Bali" blades we are seeing are coming from Madura or Jawa.

28th June 2010, 12:58 AM	#1
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Bali Keris, original stain and other comments Hello folks, I managed to pick up this Bali keris pure on esthetics and personal taste. Now I would like to check a few things. - It looks original stain to me. am I right ? - there are some markings on the ganja. the seem deliberate to me. Do they have a meaning or purpose. - Is there any indication on age ? Thanks for any input, Best regards, Willem Attached Images

29th June 2010, 09:52 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Willem, Yes, looks like original Balinese warangan treatment to me, too. I don't doubt that the blade is antique. The long part of the ganja looks a bit shortened. Have you a close-up of those 2 triple marks close to the pesi? Are these also present on the other side of the blade? The marks on top of the ganja are even more weird... Congrats - nice acquisition! Regards, Kai

29th June 2010, 09:54 AM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	BTW, the tip of the scabbard looks like a later repair to me.

29th June 2010, 11:48 AM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Hello Kai, I will try to make some better pictures of the triple markings. To be honest, I noticed them only on the pictures after I posted them. I also have the idea that the ganja is missing a litlle part. Maybe once bended and broken in the past. The scabbard tip looks original to me. The very subtle wood on the front is an inlay, so that is why it ends in a straight line at the bottom. Best regards, Willem

29th June 2010, 12:15 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Willem When was the last time blades were actually made on Bali 1950s-70? blade could be early to mid 20th century. Anyway it's real nice. Lew

29th June 2010, 01:02 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	I also think this is an old Bali blade, probably 19th century, with an old Bali stain. The tip of the scabbard doesn't look like a repair to me. It is very common for there to be a nice piece of patterned wood inlaid into to front of the stem like this. I agree that the gonjo looks a bit short, though i cannot tell from the photos if it has been shortened or just made this way. The markings are unusual and very interesting and i would think most definitely intentional. No clue as to way though. Lew, i could be wrong, but i don't think there has been much keris production in Bali post WWII. All those contemporary "Bali" blades we are seeing are coming from Madura or Jawa.