A KERIS WITH IVORY HANDLE

Description:

Indonesia, Sumatra South, Palembang Province, early 19th century (blade possibly older)
L. 47,5 cm
This keris can be attributed to the former sultanate of Palembang in south-east Sumatra. The blade is straight (lurus) and has a flat, lenticular cross-section. The surface is profile-etched, as is common in the Malay region. The cutting edges, gusen, are polished - a typical feature of Palembang keris. According to Javanese terminology, the blade can be categorised as a dapur tilam upih. The pamor (forging pattern) is pattern-controlled and shows oval groupings. These are created by chiselling out the corresponding patterns and then forging the blade blank flat again. Similar patterns are known as ''melati sinebar''. The hilt is made of ivory. It belongs to the jawa demam ("Fevered Javanese") type and depicts a largely abstracted anthropomorphic figure. It sits in a relaxed posture (lalita sana) on a tumpal pedestal, with the right arm resting against the body and bent and the left hand clasping the knee. The figure has the back shield that emerged in the 14th century as a feature of the pendawa heroes from the Mahabharata. This makes it easier to recognise in the shadow play. The hibiscus flowers, the symbol of the ksatya (nobles) of Majapahit, are recognisable behind the "ear". In some places, especially under the chin, the swastika motif (Hindu sun symbol) can be seen in stylised form as a swirl. The surface is mostly decorated with finely incised spiral and ornamental motifs, which represent the limit of what is possible in the fineness of their execution. Sometimes the basic type is called "Lampung Garuda", which gives the incorrect impression that the handle represents a bird (Garuda, Wishnu's eagle from Hindu mythology). However, it is always an abstracted demonic figure from the Hindu pantheon (Shiva Bhairava's demonic retinue or followers, gana), whose originally realistic depiction was probably increasingly abstracted in various forms under Islamic standards as part of the strengthening of the Javanese coastal states from the 16th century onwards. Palembang is one of the oldest and most important cities in Southeast Asia and the ancient capital of the Shrivijaya empire, an important thalassography (naval power) in the second half of the 1st century. The ruling dynasties of South Sumatra and Java have been closely linked since the Shailendra period (9th century) at the latest.
From an old German private collection, assembled since the 1950s, formerly a Swiss private collection, before 1880 - The EU trade certificate for the sale of this lot is available - Minor traces of age, the blade with only few, tiny chips
Lit.: Harsrinuksmo, S., Lumintu, W. (1998): Ensoklopedi Budaya Nasional. Jakarta - SNKI (Hardi H. et al.2010): Keris Untuk Dunia (Kris for the World). Jakarta - Hidayat, M. M. (2013): Keris Indonesia. Estetika dan Magna Filosifi (Aethetics and Philosophical Meaning). Yogjakarta