Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 36:
Keris Dagger from the region of Java and Madura often are composed of individual elements of differentregional origin. A single keris may have a Maduran handle, Javan blade, and Balinese scabbard, and may even include elements Sumatran style as well. Classic elements of Maduranworkmanship include carved scabbards and especially finely carved hilts in various materials.The use of figural carving is also known on Northeast Javan hilts and Maduran hilts as well.While especially fine hilts are prized, the blade, or wilah, of the keris is the most valued part, holding the sacred and esoteric power of the keris.Some keris blades would be carved with representations of nagas. In the Javanese belief systemswhere nagas are referenced, the naga refers to a a class of semi-divine beings, half human andhalf serpent who were relegated to an underground kingdom by Brahma, when they became toopopulous on earth. There are a number of individually named nagas, who carry individualresponsibilities and are capable of supernatural acts (Maisy, 2000).This example in the Schmiedt collection is a Javanese and Maduran Keris of with a hilt carved inwood of figural form, potentially of a Wayang figure. The blade is hand forged and with an 11luk pattern called dapor naga siluman and with a very fine pamor primarily in the middle portionof the blade, approximated by the style ngulit semangka, or watermelon skin, or beras wutah.The base of the blade, gandik, is chiseled with a gold decorated Naga head. The mendak (cuff)between hilt and blade in Solo style. The Warangka (scabbard throat) of Ladrang Surakartatype but carved with Maduran style carving. The gandar (scabbard body) with a brass Pendok(cover).Late 19th to early 20th century.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 21" 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 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. Maisy, A. (2000) The Keris and the Naga. Arms Cavalcade (1) 39. Marval, G.de. (1994) UKIRAN – Essai de classification des poignÃĩes de kris de l’archipelindonÃĩsien 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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