Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 216:
Keris from Bali are considered some of the finest among the Indonesian archipelago. As Bali is a Hindu society, the influences on the keris have survived the Islamicization 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 much more realistic manner than the more the stylized interpretations found in other parts of the region, suchas the highly stylized Garuda imagery of the Bugis or Sumatra. The keris played a particularly important role in Balinese society, is used as a ritual tool in almost every Balinese religiousceremony. Standing as pusaka, a powerful sanctified heirloom and serving as a strong marker of socio-economic status, a keris could only be made by Pande blacksmiths who claim status higher than that of a Brahman. The Majaphit conquest of Bali in 1343 especially influenced the development of the keris in Balinese society. In Bali, the keris is referred to as kadutan, but the term keris is used as it is widespread through the region.This example in the Schmiedt Collection has a hilt with a well carved representation of a classic Balinese form in the form of a demon or raksasa carved in wood with gilded elements. Thedemon with bulging eyes and belly and fangs, indicative of the type, sits upon the tumpal with triangular forms. The mendak is in filigreed silver. The 9 luk blade has a rare form called dhapur luk sia singa lembu (for the 9 luk form with a lion/bull at the base), rather distinctively separated with a long section of straight blade and with the luk distributed evenly near thepucukan (tip of the blade) and the ganja (the crosspiece at the base of the blade). The pamor pattern is distinctive with undulating ridged waves along the edges, called untu belang, meaning grasshoppers tooth and in the esoteric significance of pamor is the form most suited for educators and teachers.Overall first half of 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 18 3/4" Blade Length : 15 1/4" References:1. Frey, E. (1988) The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World. Oxford University Press.2. Mardianto, W. A to Z Sesuatu mengenai KERIS dan TOMBAK KERIS 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 ArtMuseum.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
Share this lot:
