Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1105 - Bugis Keris with Embossed Silver Decoration Covering the Hilt and Scabbard

The double-edged 5 luk wavy blade is just over 11 inches (28.5 cm) in length excluding the ganja (cross piece at the base of the blade). The pamor (grain) is of very high silver against very dark gray contrast and appears to reflect a topography of numerous contrasting layers lying very much within the overall plane of blade and revealed as being fairly random over the relatively flat mid portion of the blade and then being seen more as lines as the angle of intersection with the surface increases entering the edge bevels. The Bugis style hilt is entirely covered by very proficiently executed silver in a floral pattern and terminates in a stylized bird's head. The keris measures 14¼ inches (36.2 cm) in length measured parallel with the length of the blade, but not taking the turn of the hilt; the weight of the keris alone is 12 ounces (340 grams). A well formed wranka shows some 'tiger stripe' grain effect and the gandar (long shaft of the scabbard) is covered by similarly worked silver with high contrast between bright raised design and a dark gray background. Within the sheath, the length of this keris is 19¼ inches (49 cm); overall weight is 21.5 ounces (610 grams). Lew dated this keris as mid 20th century. The keris is accompanied by a maroon fabric bag.


Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration

Bugis Keris with Silver Decoration



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