Bugis Chieftain's Keris: does it exist?

[BigG]

Originally Posted by BluErf

I believe the term chieftain keris is a term loosely coined by collectors to describe kerises belonging to people of some status. Not very high ranking, but maybe a village headman or local military captain or the likes. And essentially, status in some cases was expressed through the size of the sheath, which then made the batang look proportionately short. The width of the batang also became wider, and this sort of keris seemed to fall under the loose term "chieftain keris". I don't think the original owners of such kerises called it by this term.

Yep... ths is a plausible way of looking at it... a good angle with which to eplore the subject further

[Battara]

BluErf, this was the definition I had come to understand as a chieftain's keris. And thus wanted to know if there was any merit to it.

Khalifah Muda, a good example of what I am talking about. I noticed that the buntut on this one is made of ivory matching the hilt.

[Battara]

Another thought. Would it also be considered a chieftain's keris if it has some gold on it, say top and bottom like in the example I showed.

[Battara]

No answers to my question?

[PenangsangII]

Originally Posted by Battara

Another thought. Would it also be considered a chieftain's keris if it has some gold on it, say top and bottom like in the example I showed.

Up to 20th Century, any gold works on keris was strictly forbidden as it was reserved for the royalty.

[David]

Originally Posted by PenangsangII

Up to 20th Century, any gold works on keris was strictly forbidden as it was reserved for the royalty.

Was this true everywhere in the keris world, or just specific kingdoms?

[PenangsangII]

Originally Posted by David

Was this true everywhere in the keris world, or just specific kingdoms?

True in Malay based kingdom, esp. within former Malaka realm