A FINE COURT KERIS (DHUWING, CURIGA)

Description:

Central Indonesia, Java, Yogyakarta, mounting 20th century, blade older
L. 44,5 cm
Representative court keris in the style of Yogyakarta with a blade in classic nagaraja / nagasasra form, with 11 waves. This is characterised by the fact that the crowned world serpent (naga pahóda), which embodies the blade, appears at the base. Below it, the bintulu eye can be recognised, which simultaneously embodies the world mountain. Kala / bintulu stands metaphorically for the high god Shiva, who symbolises creation and destruction in equal measure: the privilege of the sacred ruler. The pamor (welding pattern) is executed in beras wutah (layers in uncontrolled layering). The blade is very old (17th century or older), the partially gilded serpent was applied later (gebalan). The ivory handle has a planar nunggak-semi shape. It has 2 deeply carved patra (stylised masks), which go back to the symbolism of Durga. In this form, the keris handle represents a visualisation of the tantric shakti cult, in which the worship of Shiva's shakti Uma / Durga takes centre stage. The tantric-vajrayan cult gained a foothold at Javanese royal courts in the 13th century and is still subliminally important today. Another, earlier level of meaning is found in the depiction of two faces stacked on top of each other, which possibly goes back to ritual head hunting in pre-Hindu times. Scabbard in sandang walikat form with fine gold leaf overlay and coloured appliqués, with the symbol of the princely house of Hamengku Buwana of Yogyakarta and two symmetrically arranged world serpents as a symbol of sacred rule at the top. The Sultanate of Yogyakarta, which together with Surakarta is regarded as one of the two centres of Javanese culture in which the old courtly traditions continue unbroken, emerged from the empire of Mataram II in 1755. Mataram II (zenith around 1630 under Sultan Agung Kusuma) had ruled over large parts of Java since the late 16th century. After 1812, the princes of Surakarta and Yogyakarta lost part of their territory to Britain. During the years of the Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949), the capital was temporarily relocated to Yogyakarta. Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX (1912-1988) declared his kingdom part of the Indonesian Republic in 1950.
From an old German private collection, assembled since the 1950s - The EU trade certificate for the sale of this lot is available - Minor traces of age
Lit.: SNKI (Hardi H. et al.2010): Keris Untuk Dunia (Kris for the World). Jakarta - Guritno, H. (2005): Keris Jawa. Jakarta - Hidayat, M. M. (2013): Keris Indonesia. Estetika dan Makna Filosofi. Jakarta.