Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 218:
Javanese keris, are some of the most highly variegated objects in the world of arms and armor.Despite maintaining a distinct overall form and shape, the variation, in particular of the style ofblades is greater than any other arms and armor culture. While Javanese hilts are most recognized by the form called the cecekan hilt associated with the royal court of Surakarta andYogyakarta, other types of hilts are known and which incorporate elements from nearby islands such as Madura and Bali. Likewise, keris in Java may be composed of elements from nearby oreven further afield and what makes a keris Javanese is a complex affair. The many regional interactions across islands and cultures led to keris which have parts from multiple regions in onekeris, with a blade of Javanese make, a hilt from Bali and a scabbard style from elsewhere. Hilts from Bali are often found with Javanese blades, and Balinese hilts displays the most realistic carved interpretations of various mythological and anthropomorphic figures. Balinese carvings of Ganesha, the Hindu God, take the fantastic carved form of an elephant headed creature, often holding his right arm above the head.This example in the Schmiedt collection is an example of Balinese workmanship of the hilt, likely carved of stained wood, now worn. The hilt is in the form of Lord Ganesha with an elephant head and a human body. The classic Balinese integral selut, sometines in carved gold and inlaid with stones, is carved integrally to the ukiran (or hilt). The mendak here is of classic Javanese silver granulated form. The 17 luk blade with an elephant carved into the gandik in a more realistic representation than the classic style of praen and telaleh gajah (or the formal Javan terms for the portion of the gandik that represents an elephant trunk). The pamor is a linear Adeg form.Dated 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 20 1/2" Blade Length : 16 1/2"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. Maisey, A. Dhapur and pamor according to Djeno Harumbrojo, Jogjakarta.Kerisattosanaji8. Marval, G.de. (1994) UKIRAN – Essai de classification des poignes de kris de l’archipelindonsien.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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