Figural !

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by David

I can't say i have ever seen a Balinese hilt with this style and figure. Seems very unusual to me. I don't think this was intended to be a Kocetan. Only 2 arms (or legs) and their appear to be talons on the hands/feet.
Can you make some better photos of this hilt Roland. I would love to see it better.

Hello David,

sure and please here they are. I cannot say anything about the Ificah-example except that mine is much more detailed and more skillfully made. I can see traces from engraving. My example is from ~1900 or earlier. BTW, the Mendak is decorated with very fine rubys. The last picture with the blade is from the auction house. A very rare four armed Ganesha figure. I turned the hilt 180° immediately after it arrived.


Regards,
Roland

[David]

In many ways it looks more like a Barong or lion than a dragon, but it still does not seem to fit into any known Balinese style for said creatures. It's impressive regardless.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by David

In many ways it looks more like a Barong or lion than a dragon, but it still does not seem to fit into any known Balinese style for said creatures. It's impressive regardless.

Dragon is just a guess. I would say it is a zoomorphic figure with different influences. The Indonesians are the best artists worldwide with great advance related to zoomorphic figures. The flat and smooth blade seems to be from Bali.

[A. G. Maisey]

Roland, just to confirm:- the keris shown in post 142 is your keris, and it is attributed to pre-1900?

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Roland, just to confirm:- the keris shown in post 142 is your keris, and it is attributed to pre-1900?

Alan, yes this is my Keris and the description of the auction house was 1800 or earlier. If you could see the scabbard, you would see, that this Keris is older than 30- 50 years or so. Detlef (sajen) saw this Keris many times and he also said ~1900.

[A. G. Maisey]

Thank you Roland.

Do you know if there was reliable provenance, and if there was not, who did the appraisal?

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Thank you Roland.

Do you know if there was reliable provenance, and if there was not, who did the appraisal?

My pleasure Alan,

I have no informations about the person which made the description for the auction house. German Auction houses often use the description from the seller without further investigations. So the description from the auction house is not very reliable in many cases.
Around 1900 is Detlefs (sajen) Statement, he is extraordinary experienced, he got many books and saw thousends of Keris. If you like to see the scabbard, I will send some pictures to you via Email. The scabbard is worth to have a look on it.

[A. G. Maisey]

Thank you Roland.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Roland_M

..... he got many books and saw thousends of Keris.

I don't saw thousends of Keris, houndreds sounds better!

[kai]

Hello Roland,

If you like to see the scabbard, I will send some pictures to you via Email. The scabbard is worth to have a look on it.

I believe it would be worth to have a dedicated thread on this keris!

A pic of the other side of the blade (only the basal third, pointing upwards) would be greatly appreciated, too. Thanks!

Regards,
Kai