Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 19:
Keris from Bali are some of the most finely crafted among the Indonesianarchipelago. As Bali is a Hindu society, the influences on the keris have survived theIslamicization of form and design found elsewhere in the region, with some exceptions. As aresult, Balinese keris often sport hilts carved with richly designed Hindu deities in more realisticmanner than the more the stylized interpretations found in other parts of the region, such as thehighly stylized Garuda imagery of the Bugis or on Sumatra. The keris played a particularlyimportant role in Balinese society and is used as a ritual tool in almost every Balinese religiousceremony. Standing as pusaka, a powerful sanctified heirloom and serving as a strong marker ofsocio-economic status, a keris could only be made by Pande blacksmiths who claim status higherthan that of a Brahman. The historical development of the Balinese keris is related to theorigination of the keris in the early part of the 2nd millennium A.D. and which spread to Balifrom the east Javanese kingdom of Kedhiri from 11th-13th centuries. The Majaphit conquest ofBali in 1343 especially influenced the development of the keris in Balinese society.This example in the Schmiedt Collection is a good representation of a classic Balinese form.Dagger hilt appears to represent a raksasa, or a demon. Raksasa representations are common inBalinese hilts and usually is represented by a demon with bulging eyes and fangs sitting atop thetriangular tumpal motif. The wrangka is a classic Balinese form axe-shaped called a kandik.The blade is a finely crafted 9 luk form, called a dhapur luk sia representing in Balinese culturethe perfection and completion of the body and soul because the number nine in Hinduism andBuddhism is considered to be final (Neka 2014). The blade has finely patterned linear patterncalled pamor miring.First Half of 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 27 3/4" Blade Length : 22" References:1. Frey, E. (1988) The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World. Oxford University Press.2. Mardianto, W. A to Z â€â€œ Sesuatu mengenai KERIS dan TOMBAK KERIS â€â€œ SENJATATRADISIONAL INDONESIA A to Z3. Ki Empu Jhuel. Pamor Keris4. Ghiringelli. V. (2007) The Invincible Krises 2. Saviolo Publisher5. Van Zonneveld, A.G. (2001) Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago.Leiden: Art Books6. Gardner, G.B. (2009) Keris and other Malay Weapons. Orchid Press7. Weihrauch, A., Kloubert, U. and Aljunied, A. (2017)The Gods & the Forge: BalineseCeremonial Blades- The Gods & the Forge in a Cultural Context. IFICAH8. Neka, W. S. (2014) Understanding Balinese Keris: An Insiders Perspective. Neka ArtMuseumDetailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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