Pair of kris/ keris , bugis ?

[tom22]

HI Any info on these would be appreciated , picked them up recently together at a local antique fair ,
Any information on region age etc would be appreciated,
I believe they are called a bugis kris

[Sajen]

Hello Tom,

The smaller keris is a keris from Selangor or Johor by the scabbard and hilt style IMHO!
The bigger one is a little bit more tricky, I will let it to Gustav to place this one!

Regards,
Detlef

[A. G. Maisey]

We are looking at two keris, each keris is comprised of a number of components, and each keris would fall into the broad church of the Bugis keris.

When a keris is classified as "Bugis" it is classified in accordance with cultural indicators, where within the Bugis world these two keris might have originated becomes a sub-classification, & one that I decided long ago not to try too hard to take much interest in.

I have a number of reasons for this lack of interest, & it is rooted in the overall lack of unified opinions. Collectors outside of culture seem to have developed their own system of classification, and even then there appears to be variation in opinions, whilst collectors within Bugis culture seem to have a more, let us say, elastic system of classification according to which just about every keris with a trace of Bugis influence is classified as South Sulawesi.

In my opinion, the two keris we are looking at are properly classified as Bugis, and would most certainly be so classified as this by any keris literate person whom I know in Indonesia.

However, the sub-classification of geographic point of origin is something I will leave to the opinions of others.

One of these subject keris has a 3 luk blade, this blade may or may not be of Bugis origin, I cannot determine if it has the required hexagon form, overall it does look Bugis, but I would like to see the hexagon.

The long thin keris must be counted as 9 luk by current convention, & I cannot see anything even close to Bugis in that blade. I cannot give a supportable opinion on origin of this 9 luk blade.

[Gustav]

The 3 Luk Keris combines characteristics from Perak and Kelantan. As they are neighboring states that shouldn't be an anomaly.

The 9 Luk Keris blade is tricky. Dress - sheath is distinctly South Sulawesi, the hilt from the islands south of Sulawesi, Selayar. There are similar hilt forms with a "bridge" on Sumbawa and Sumatra, but this could be from Selayar indeed.

Blade seems like an Pasisir or East Java inspired form, if not from there. The Pesi is longer then usual South Sulawesi Bugis, see the long necked Selut and the quite upright hilt. The Gonjo would be unusual for Pasisir or East Java.

Both Keris are very nice, the Peninsular one especially.

Would be interesting to see more and better pictures of the 9 Luk blade.

[Gustav]

The Blade except Gonjo looks like East Java? Tlamaan seems to be absolutely straight - but we need better pictures.

[tom22]

Hi Gustav thanks for you reply and information , here are a few more pictures hopefully they can help ,thanks ,Tom

[tom22]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

We are looking at two keris, each keris is comprised of a number of components, and each keris would fall into the broad church of the Bugis keris.

When a keris is classified as "Bugis" it is classified in accordance with cultural indicators, where within the Bugis world these two keris might have originated becomes a sub-classification, & one that I decided long ago not to try too hard to take much interest in.

I have a number of reasons for this lack of interest, & it is rooted in the overall lack of unified opinions. Collectors outside of culture seem to have developed their own system of classification, and even then there appears to be variation in opinions, whilst collectors within Bugis culture seem to have a more, let us say, elastic system of classification according to which just about every keris with a trace of Bugis influence is classified as South Sulawesi.

In my opinion, the two keris we are looking at are properly classified as Bugis, and would most certainly be so classified as this by any keris literate person whom I know in Indonesia.

However, the sub-classification of geographic point of origin is something I will leave to the opinions of others.

One of these subject keris has a 3 luk blade, this blade may or may not be of Bugis origin, I cannot determine if it has the required hexagon form, overall it does look Bugis, but I would like to see the hexagon.

The long thin keris must be counted as 9 luk by current convention, & I cannot see anything even close to Bugis in that blade. I cannot give a supportable opinion on origin of this 9 luk blade.

Thanks for taking your time to explain your opinion its much appreciated ,im a total novice in this area and not sure what the hexagon area is ? thanks Tom

[Gustav]

Tom, thank you for the pictures.

I might consider the possibility the Bugis style Gonjo is an old replacement. The blade itself looks East Javanese to me, with Pamor Ujung Gunung or Jungjung Derajat.