Part of a Keris Sheath?

scotchleaf · 13th July 2014, 12:20 AM

I found this in an antique/junk shop in Maine: Looks like the top of a Keris sheath. What can you tell me about it's age, whether it was made for tourists, etc?

Battara · 13th July 2014, 04:24 AM

This is the wranga part of a Balinese scabbard. In fact, this belongs to a more recently made Balinese scabbard.

scotchleaf · 13th July 2014, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

This is the wranga part of a Balinese scabbard. In fact, this belongs to a more recently made Balinese scabbard.

Thanks for the info.

How old would you think it is? Who/what is the face carved into the wranga?

I can tell you that just cutting the hole was skilled and difficult work (from making my own knife handles) and the carving appears to have been executed well. Was $28 too much to pay?

Sajen · 13th July 2014, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotchleaf

How old would you think it is?

Not before 1970 would be my guess.

Sajen · 13th July 2014, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotchleaf

Was $28 too much to pay?

Sorry, we don't discuss prices here open in the forum. There are better ones on the market but a lot more of worse ones. When the carving meet your taste and you like it; all is good and ok!

Battara · 14th July 2014, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotchleaf

Who/what is the face carved into the wranga?

You are certainly welcome. Sajen is correct in that we do not give appraisals on this forum, although you are welcome to contact members privately.

Detlef also has a good point on age.

As far as the face is concerned, I believe it is the Balinese forrest god Banaspati.

scotchleaf · 14th July 2014, 03:00 AM

Thanks all! I found this in a box on the floor of this shop in Maine, which you wouldn't think of as deliberately passing tourist items. I guess I'm paying for education, but I do like it as an unusual carving.

By the way, if you are into old tools, Liberty Tool is great.

A. G. Maisey · 14th July 2014, 08:49 AM

I suggest that the seller would not have recognised that this carving was a part of something that collectors of keris like to refer to as a "tourist" item. In any case, it is fairly recent Balinese craft work, whatever we call it.

In the Balinese context it would be preferable to regard this as a representation of Bhoma, rather than Banaspati:-

"--- Bhoma, sometimes called Kala, is a representation of the son of Wisnu and Basundari, and thus is the child of water and earth. The joining of water and earth results in the growth of plants, which in a society dependent upon agriculture equates to prosperity. In Sanscrit, Bhoma means "born of the earth".
Thus Bhoma can be taken to represent the growth of vegetation.---"

Sajen · 13th July 2014, 01:36 PM

Jose is correct, it is the cross piece of a Bali scabbard of more recent date. This scabbards are made for tourists. Look for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=bali+tourist

Regards,
Detlef

13th July 2014, 12:20 AM	#1
scotchleaf Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 21	Part of a Keris Sheath? I found this in an antique/junk shop in Maine: Looks like the top of a Keris sheath. What can you tell me about it's age, whether it was made for tourists, etc?

14th July 2014, 08:49 AM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	I suggest that the seller would not have recognised that this carving was a part of something that collectors of keris like to refer to as a "tourist" item. In any case, it is fairly recent Balinese craft work, whatever we call it. In the Balinese context it would be preferable to regard this as a representation of Bhoma, rather than Banaspati:- "--- Bhoma, sometimes called Kala, is a representation of the son of Wisnu and Basundari, and thus is the child of water and earth. The joining of water and earth results in the growth of plants, which in a society dependent upon agriculture equates to prosperity. In Sanscrit, Bhoma means "born of the earth". Thus Bhoma can be taken to represent the growth of vegetation.---" Attached Images

13th July 2014, 04:24 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	This is the wranga part of a Balinese scabbard. In fact, this belongs to a more recently made Balinese scabbard.

14th July 2014, 03:00 AM	#7
scotchleaf Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 21	Thanks all! I found this in a box on the floor of this shop in Maine, which you wouldn't think of as deliberately passing tourist items. I guess I'm paying for education, but I do like it as an unusual carving. By the way, if you are into old tools, Liberty Tool is great.

13th July 2014, 01:36 PM	#9
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,415	Jose is correct, it is the cross piece of a Bali scabbard of more recent date. This scabbards are made for tourists. Look for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=bali+tourist Regards, Detlef