Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 24:
Javanese keris Dagger, 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. In Javanese culture, the keris is reveredas tosan aji (Javanese for sacred heirloom weapons) and considered a pusaka, or treasuredheirloom. A pusaka keris given by a Javanese king to nobles or his subjects, was meant tosymbolize the king’s confidence bestowed upon the receiver and was considered a great honor.These keris would be composed of rare materials and have exceptional blades of fine forging byJavanese empus. The most classic style of hilt is from the Royal Palaces of Surakarta in centralJava and called a cecekan hilt. This hilt has seven flat planar sides, with two carvings at internalangles of the hilt. The one nearest the pommel represents the kala mask, a benevolent demonand the small protrusion in the carving called a kuncung represents a nose. Another formclosely related in form is from the Palaces of Yogyakarta and is referred to as a Nunggak Semishape, but also has the distinctive carvings on the inside angles of the handle. These highlyabstract forms represent the highest level of abstraction in Indonesian keris handles, though othersuch as the Bugis hilt representing a garuda are also highly abstract.This example in the Schmiedt collection is a Javanese Keris of cecekan form in the Surakartastyle called Yudo Winkan. The blade is hand forged and with a 7 luk pattern most closelyapproximated by the form known as dapor jaran guying and consists of a rare pamor patterncalled Ron Pakis, or Bulu Ayam (chicken feathers). Judging by the deep wear of the blade it isof considerable age and has been mounted in 20th century mounts, and most likely is a pusakablade. The selut cup seating the Surakarta hilt is beautifully made of silver and inlaid with rockcrystal or intan intan, or rough diamond. The warangka (scabbard throat) of Ladrang Surakartatype and painted in the form called sunggingan. The gandar (scabbard body) painted red.First half of 20th century, Blade is earlier.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 19 1/4" Blade Length : 14" 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. Maisey, A. Dhapur and pamor according to Djeno Harumbrojo, Jogjakarta.Kerisattosanaji8. Marval, G.de. (1994) UKIRAN – Essai de classification des poignÃĩes de kris de l’archipelindonÃĩsienDetailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
Share this lot:
