PAUL'S KERIS PAGE

THE FRIENDS' GALLERY

Lots of Pics - Scroll Down.:)
Takes a little time to download but I think its worth the wait.

 




A fine Bali Ladrang Keris with a Kelap Lintah blade (blade with a wavy 
ganja). The hilt is the famous but uncommon Kocet-Kocettan, the 
details of which will be shown and discussed later. The wrangka is the 
Balinese form of the Ladrang and is ivory. The sheath has a gold sleeve 
embedded with gems on two sections. The dress is of excellent workmanship 
and new; showing clearly that the craft of keris decoration is well and 
alive in Bali.
 



The hilt is the famous Kocet-Kocettan. It is an insect as can be seen by 
its six legs. Some sources identify it as a stink-bug (?). Kenner mentions
several times in his German text (I cannot read German) the word "Brahmen"
which I take as Brahmin, the priestly caste in the Hindu caste system. 
Perhaps this hilt form is associated with them. Anyone with more information
I would love to hear from you.
 



A fine Bali keris in the "everyday" Sedang Walikat sheath. Wrangka of Ivory,
nice Pelet panel and a gold back sleeve. The Sandang Walikat sheath is considered
less formal than a Ladrang or Gayaman. I think the idea is to keep the more 
elaborate sheaths for formal occassions and the Walikat is used when the 
formal sheaths are in storage. However, overtime, some Walikats have 
themselves become very elaborate and intricate like the one above.
 



A hilt representing Hanuman the Monkey God. Hanuman is a popular figure in Bali.
He symbolises courage, wit and daring. Hanuman is a key figure in the story of 
Rama. It was he who led the Monkey army against Ravana and helped rescue Sita,
Rama's consort.

The figural style of the hilt dates back to Java to the Majapahit period 
though the proportions on Balinese hilts tend to be bigger, even the gemstones.
I think this hilt is relatively new. Judging from photos and comparing old and new hilts 
from Bali, old hilts have a certain pudginess to it and tend to be straighter and
more erect with less of a curving tilt to it. However, this is an opinion based on
limited exposure. It would be wonderful to have a discussion on this. I don't
know much about the characters the Balinese use on their hilts. Anyone who 
knows about a good book or website on this topic, please share.
 



A fine Jogja Gayaman with ivory Wrangka and Ukiran, and a gold bunton pendok.
While you regularly find Jogja ukiran in ivory, you very seldom see this 
in Solo ukirans. Wood is the preferred material in Solo.
 



A blade with Dapur Jalak Dinding (Harsrinuksmo). 
Lovely pamor of two kinds. You have the pamor tambal and pamor wengkon 
(borders/frame). Pamor Tambal is created in most cases by hammering or 
forging pamor from another blade into a newer one. The idea behind this is 
the hope that the power of the old keris is transferred to the new one. In 
this regard, Tammens points out that some consider this " a patched-up keris" 
while other value it for the power of the old pusaka. Edward Frey lists this 
sort of pamor as Pamor Trap-Trapan



This is a reflective keris where the play
of light hitting the face of the blade at a certain angel gives the pamor a 
three dimensional effect. A similar effect is seen in example in Solyom 
(No 55 - 57). Solyom suspects that it is created by chiselling the desired
pattern on the blade then reforging it flat. The agreement is that reflective
pamor is a relatively new development in keris art and was introduced at 
about the end of the 19th century. However, its really wonderful to see
the pamor rise when you tilt the blade to catch the light...:)
 



This is painted ladrang sheath from Solo or Surakarta. I have yet to see 
a painted Jogja sheath and I think that this is a uniquely Solo 
practice. The blewah pendok is in red lacquer and by tradition only immediate
relatives of the Sultan have the right to have red lacquered sheaths
 



The blade has Dapur Sabuk Inten with a tightly controlled Pamor Kulit Semangka or
Berah Wutah.



Click on the highlighted words to get to the pages listed
below


Contents

1.  The Keris - Forward & Contents
2.  The Keris - An Introduction
3.  The Blade
4.  Details of the Blade
5.  Dapur
6.  Pamor
7.  Pamor Types
8. The Hilt, Sheath and Other Fittings
9.  The Hilt
10.  The Hilt Rings
11. The Sheath
12. The Mystical Aspect
13. Why I like the Keris...A technical and Cultural View
14. References
GALLERY
LINKS
Keris Cleaning During Muharram
THE Friends' Gallery

If you want to talk keris mail me at :
dspf@pacific.net.sg