My Refurbished Balinese Kris

[milandro]

The hilt was bought at auction and they said if was from the '70 but could be older. The blade, not including the pest, is 46 cm long

The material is albino kerbau horn. The information on the divinity represented was provided by the auction house. They have some of the most famous appraisers in the NL.

I actually have a picture of the other kris owned by Emile Veenendaal ( I have published also in the thread about figural hilts).


Yes I think we use the services of the same person to do the Warangan washing.

This is the kris which once belonged to Emile Veenendaal (they are pictures from that same auction) it is not my kris though. You can see the similarities of both Krises and Hilts.

It was an incredible coincidence that I was able to match a hilt whey similar to a very similar kris . The Venedaal kris has a much more ornate sarong and carried an hefty price tag, but frankly speaking I am very happy of my own with its sarong.

[Sajen]

Thank you very much!
Indeed very very similar the both keris, crazy!

Like said before, a very nice keris, congrats for the refurbish work!

Regards,
Detlef

[David]

Beautiful keris blade and you did a fine job redressing it. I would say the hilt is not very old, but it is quite attractive and suits this ensemble well. Nice job!

[milandro]

cheers

[milandro]

I have just learned that the hilt is a representation of Putri Mandalika a Sasak princess whose figure overlaps and someone is identified with the one of Parvati . The goddess is worshipped by the Sasak population of Lombok but also on Bali.


I got this from a new friend , Duncan, who is a very knowledgeable hilt connoisseur , Very thankful to him.

[A. G. Maisey]

Milandro, I find that to be a strange symbolism to incorporate into a keris hilt.

My memory of the Putri Mandalika myth is that she committed suicide by drowning rather than choose a husband from her many suitors, she became a symbol of self sacrifice.

Her reincarnation was as a sea worm that is eaten.

Rather a strange symbolism to occupy the position that is usually one of a protective symbol.

I wonder if this hilt is perhaps an artistic expression rather than an expression of keris symbolism?

[milandro]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Milandro, I find that to be a strange symbolism to incorporate into a keris hilt.

My memory of the Putri Mandalika myth is that she committed suicide by drowning rather than choose a husband from her many suitors, she became a symbol of self sacrifice.

Her reincarnation was as a sea worm that is eaten.

Rather a strange symbolism to occupy the position that is usually one of a protective symbol.

I wonder if this hilt is perhaps an artistic expression rather than an expression of keris symbolism?

My new friend has provided me with an extensive reference of hilts, all representing the same goddess , which are all very coherent with the depiction on my hilt. Ik will ask him permission to share them with the kind people here. He also provided extensive stories concerning the cult and the worms which apparently consumed during the festival in the winter when they appear.