Keris Selit

RSWORD · 15th November 2017, 01:04 PM

Since David asked to share examples I will share 4 from my collection.

RSWORD · 15th November 2017, 01:05 PM

Example 2

RSWORD · 15th November 2017, 01:06 PM

Example 3

RSWORD · 15th November 2017, 01:07 PM

Example 4. Comments welcomed on the 4. Thanks!

Jean · 15th November 2017, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

Example 4. Comments welcomed on the 4. Thanks!

Hello Rick,
N° 1 is Minang for sure (not selit), and N° 3 & 4 look Sumatrese, see another small specimen of unclear origin but probably Sumatra also.
Regards

David · 15th November 2017, 02:14 PM

Thanks for adding Rick. I believe you example #2 might qualify as a keris selit. As Jean points out, perhaps not the others. There are small keris that serve different functions in various keris bearing cultures, but not all are selit.
Can you give us some blade lengths on these?

rasdan · 15th November 2017, 06:14 PM

Hello everybody,

IMHO it is probably a personal preference - at least during the turn of the century. [[The process described by Jean using salt, sulphur and rice water is used to etch the blade, not stain; but if I'm not mistaken if we drop the salt it will stain. ]] <Edit: The bold part is wrong. Pls refer to post #30 for correction.

To my knowledge the word warangan was already used in Hikayat Abdullah written in early 19th century.

Below is a quote from Winstedt's Malayan Memories 1916. It is part of a dialogue of a Malay keris dealer with Winstedt:

"" So," he said, picking up bundle and cane, " so, I may
leave this dagger with the tuan. And the tuan has got me
that pink arsenic which keeps a blade bright : I want it for
my creese with the damask marks which the knowing call
' the grass-hopper's legs.' "

We can read it here:

https://archive.org/details/cu31924021572106

I think I had read some other reference about Malays staining their keris using warangan in another text that I had forgotten about.

Also, the keris on the cover of this book appears to be stained.

15th November 2017, 01:04 PM	#1
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	Since David asked to share examples I will share 4 from my collection. Attached Images

15th November 2017, 01:07 PM	#4
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	Example 4. Comments welcomed on the 4. Thanks! Attached Images

15th November 2017, 06:14 PM	#7
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hello everybody, IMHO it is probably a personal preference - at least during the turn of the century. [[The process described by Jean using salt, sulphur and rice water is used to etch the blade, not stain; but if I'm not mistaken if we drop the salt it will stain. ]] <Edit: The bold part is wrong. Pls refer to post #30 for correction. To my knowledge the word warangan was already used in Hikayat Abdullah written in early 19th century. Below is a quote from Winstedt's Malayan Memories 1916. It is part of a dialogue of a Malay keris dealer with Winstedt: "" So," he said, picking up bundle and cane, " so, I may leave this dagger with the tuan. And the tuan has got me that pink arsenic which keeps a blade bright : I want it for my creese with the damask marks which the knowing call ' the grass-hopper's legs.' " We can read it here: https://archive.org/details/cu31924021572106 I think I had read some other reference about Malays staining their keris using warangan in another text that I had forgotten about. Also, the keris on the cover of this book appears to be stained. Attached Images Last edited by rasdan; 16th November 2017 at 05:55 AM.

15th November 2017, 01:05 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	Example 2 Attached Images

15th November 2017, 01:06 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	Example 3 Attached Images

15th November 2017, 02:14 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,220	Thanks for adding Rick. I believe you example #2 might qualify as a keris selit. As Jean points out, perhaps not the others. There are small keris that serve different functions in various keris bearing cultures, but not all are selit. Can you give us some blade lengths on these?