Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 261:
Keris from the Minangkabau often resemble in form the Bugi style keris of Sulawesi. The classic form of the Minangkabau keris has a Jawa Demam style hilt. Keris daggers such as this example were referred to as a karih by the Minangkabau. They were worn for ceremonial purposes as a sign of power and prestige and were designed to slip into a manas waist band. While blades would often be considered the primary element of a keris, the hilts and sheaths were also valued especially when fine woods were used or the hilts displayed a high level of artistic carving. Even simple looking hilts could carry deep esoteric meaning for the commissioner and the lines of a Jawa Demam hilt, such as on this example, need to be considered carefully to determine whether it displays an aged patina or other distinctive characteristic enabling it to be dated or attributed more closely to a region or province.This example is finely made with a hilt of the classic interpretation of a Jawa Demam, and generally based on the overall form could be from Minangkabau province judging by the slightly upturned shape which is similar to Bugis forms but different in the profile of the upper portion fo the hilt. The scabbard has a wrangka tengah form in the tebeng Peninsular Malay style commensurate with the Sumatran style blade. The high quality wood has a vivid flame pattern found only on the desirable hardwoods used in this form of sheaths. The blade is a 9 luk variant of a Sumatran form showing a simple linear pamor. The mendok is a Sumatran or Malay cup form.Overall early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 17 3/4" Blade Length : 15" 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 SENJATA TRADISIONAL 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: Balinese Ceremonial Blades- The Gods & the Forge in a Cultural Context. IFICAH8. Maisey, A. Dhapur and pamor according to Djeno Harumbrojo, Jogjakarta. Kerisattosanaji9. Neka, W. S. (2014) Understanding Balinese Keris: An Insiders Perspective. Neka Art Museum10. Marval, G.de. UKIRAN – Essai de classification des poignes de kris de l’archipel indonesienDetailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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