Help to Identify a Deder Design

Jayaningkurnia · 28th June 2026, 04:35 AM

Greetings everyone,

I recently acquired a keris that comes with a deder carved with a design that is new to me. The person I acquired it from does not is also not familiar with the design (nor the type of wood used), but cited "Cirebon sepuh" as a possible timeline.

To my eyes the carvings look like a female figure enveloped in lotus/waterlilies leaves and flowers. The female figure is 'prettier' than the ones I've seen in 'kulonan'/western Java 'buto' carving style, or the 'pottre sadhu' Madurese design.

The carvings seems quite fine and intricate, with a 'krawangan'/pass-through holes under the chin of the female figure (behind the leaves). The wood has a reddish dark brown colour with a little patina (notably at the tip of the nose).

Grateful if anyone has any knowledge or reference on what this deder design is called, its backstory, and where does it commonly attributed to? Or whether it is likely a modern/contemporary design created with some creative liberty?

Thank you in advance!

A. G. Maisey · 28th June 2026, 05:20 AM

I can only comment on what I think I can see in the photos, & photos are rarely sufficient to judge this sort of thing very well.

The style of carving looks like it was done in Madura. This specific design I have not previously seen.

The wood appears to be black, is it ebony, or is it stained black? Ebony is a very heavy wood that sinks in water.

I cannot estimate age from the photos.

David · 29th June 2026, 07:24 PM

To me this is a rather attractive hilt, but i can't say that i am fully convinced it is a female character. I mean, it could be, but i cannot see in any of you photos any specific anatomy that could be identified as specifically female. That is not to say that it could not be a female figure, just that i don't find it obviously so.
I would agree with Alan that by the carving style this appears to be Madurese in origin. It isn't a brand new carving for sure, but i suspect it is 20th century.
Of course, better photos would be helpful. You should try photographing it in more even, natural light, such as what is available on a bright, but overcast day. But it does appear to be a well carved and attractive figure. But even if we had better photos i am not convinced it would be possible to identify it as a specific character.
Interesting mendhak it has. it appears to be bone of some type.

Jayaningkurnia · 3rd July 2026, 05:22 AM

Thank you Alan and David for sharing your inputs.

Alan, I totally forgot about ebony - it does seems to be the right hue and weight/feel. The deder doesn't seem to be stained, polished rather (there's a couple of fine cracks and the colour is consistent).

David, indeed there's no particular feature that indicates it is a female character - I should have said 'feminine' instead, based on the soft facial features and ratios. The mendak is made of ivory, supposedly a 'lawasan' (old piece).

So the carving design is indeed quite novel (if not new), and we are converging on Madurese in origin. It is indeed consistent with the more luxuriant plant buds/vines theme I've seen from there. I understand there are a good number of folklores from Madura that features heroines as protagonists - I wonder whether this design is based off one of them (though, again as David said, the figure may not be a female to begin with).

I am presently outstation - will share updated photos using natural light once I'm back.

28th June 2026, 04:35 AM	#1
Jayaningkurnia Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Location: Singapore Posts: 22	Help to Identify a Deder Design Greetings everyone, I recently acquired a keris that comes with a deder carved with a design that is new to me. The person I acquired it from does not is also not familiar with the design (nor the type of wood used), but cited "Cirebon sepuh" as a possible timeline. To my eyes the carvings look like a female figure enveloped in lotus/waterlilies leaves and flowers. The female figure is 'prettier' than the ones I've seen in 'kulonan'/western Java 'buto' carving style, or the 'pottre sadhu' Madurese design. The carvings seems quite fine and intricate, with a 'krawangan'/pass-through holes under the chin of the female figure (behind the leaves). The wood has a reddish dark brown colour with a little patina (notably at the tip of the nose). Grateful if anyone has any knowledge or reference on what this deder design is called, its backstory, and where does it commonly attributed to? Or whether it is likely a modern/contemporary design created with some creative liberty? Thank you in advance! Attached Images

28th June 2026, 05:20 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,230	I can only comment on what I think I can see in the photos, & photos are rarely sufficient to judge this sort of thing very well. The style of carving looks like it was done in Madura. This specific design I have not previously seen. The wood appears to be black, is it ebony, or is it stained black? Ebony is a very heavy wood that sinks in water. I cannot estimate age from the photos.

29th June 2026, 07:24 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,299	To me this is a rather attractive hilt, but i can't say that i am fully convinced it is a female character. I mean, it could be, but i cannot see in any of you photos any specific anatomy that could be identified as specifically female. That is not to say that it could not be a female figure, just that i don't find it obviously so. I would agree with Alan that by the carving style this appears to be Madurese in origin. It isn't a brand new carving for sure, but i suspect it is 20th century. Of course, better photos would be helpful. You should try photographing it in more even, natural light, such as what is available on a bright, but overcast day. But it does appear to be a well carved and attractive figure. But even if we had better photos i am not convinced it would be possible to identify it as a specific character. Interesting mendhak it has. it appears to be bone of some type.

3rd July 2026, 05:22 AM	#4
Jayaningkurnia Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Location: Singapore Posts: 22	Thank you Alan and David for sharing your inputs. Alan, I totally forgot about ebony - it does seems to be the right hue and weight/feel. The deder doesn't seem to be stained, polished rather (there's a couple of fine cracks and the colour is consistent). David, indeed there's no particular feature that indicates it is a female character - I should have said 'feminine' instead, based on the soft facial features and ratios. The mendak is made of ivory, supposedly a 'lawasan' (old piece). So the carving design is indeed quite novel (if not new), and we are converging on Madurese in origin. It is indeed consistent with the more luxuriant plant buds/vines theme I've seen from there. I understand there are a good number of folklores from Madura that features heroines as protagonists - I wonder whether this design is based off one of them (though, again as David said, the figure may not be a female to begin with). I am presently outstation - will share updated photos using natural light once I'm back.