Featured 3 Swords from Java? Need help with identification/dates please

Discussion in 'Militaria' started by Jennifer Plesman Jackson, May 8, 2019.

  1. Jennifer Plesman Jackson

    Jennifer Plesman Jackson Kees’ daughter

    Three more objects that my parents had collected. I have a whole household I am packing up so I apologize that I didn’t have time to search to see if other swords like this are already on this site... The first pic shows each blade, from top to bottom, with the scabbard below it. I then have some closeups of interesting bits. In advance, thank you all so much! 55999B03-A233-4B95-9AF8-24C6982B2CBC.jpeg 9E6F2192-B7E1-4A38-840D-CD73C1F242AA.jpeg 61A41F3C-9610-4C6F-9944-6117BA5F4A09.jpeg 305FCFA5-6DEC-4680-834F-EE1396E820C5.jpeg 53AE6916-64D3-4EB8-8D73-275F93402EFA.jpeg BCF832A6-3E2A-4949-84D5-1193FAD9B7B5.jpeg 638E8B7E-AE8A-4E43-B8A1-E04251210CC6.jpeg
     
  2. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

  3. Fid

    Fid Well-Known Member

    the daggers look like Thai Kris
     
  4. Phaik Hooi

    Phaik Hooi Well-Known Member

  5. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    Yes looks a match, Phaik Hooi.

    Boy I don't know beans about this kind of thing, but the close-up photo ones look like they might have age and possible value. So interesting.

    Wait for others to comment, too.
     
  6. Jennifer Plesman Jackson

    Jennifer Plesman Jackson Kees’ daughter

    Hmmm... not sure what you mean by authentic. Blades are sharp. Not sure if you mean “used”.
     
  7. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Any Jewelry will tell us if they are tourist items or authentic and used by the original peoples who created them in some way. She should be able to describe the potential age. She lives in the Netherlands, so we'll have to wait until she arrives. She is a wunderkind with this type of information.
     
  8. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Very nice. Two Indonesian kris daggers, and the larger sword is a Dayak mandau. The kris look to be of high quality, with detailed carving and damascus/watered steel blades. I am sure @Any Jewelry will have much more detailed insights.
     
  9. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Well... the mandau has been correctly identified by dear Phaik Hooi, who used to live on Borneo, so she should know.;)

    The other two are keris.:happy::happy::happy:
    The top one is from Djokjakarta/Yogyakarta in central Java. The blade and hilt are excellent quality, and I wouldn't be surprised if the 'mendak' or hilt ring is precious metal.
    The damascene-like pattern on the blade is called pamor, each pamor has a different meaning, so I would love to see more of the blade. Pamor as such is not a sign of quality per sé, some of the most sought after blades are 'empty'. And there are souvenir keris with fake etched pamors.
    But the general execution of this blade confirms quality. It has twelve 'luk' or curves, which means it is a spiritual keris.
    The hilt is of the Nunggak Semi type, with two little masks. The style, fairly straight and small, is typical of Yogyakarta. The shape of the ship of the sheath is also typical of Yogyakarta. Could I also see the other side of the sheath? It can be easily repaired btw, just a bit of glue on the wooden parts, not the metal.
    Nunggak Semi means sprouting tree trunk. It is a pretty general type in Java and Madura, based on a stylised ancestor figure.
    The sprouting bit of the hilt, the second mask, has to do with the complicated matter of which royal family was the actual heir to the throne of the ancient Majapahit empire. The kingdoms of Demak and Madura were the only real heirs, but a new kingdom in Central Java claimed the old title. This hilt originated in Demak, on the north coast of Java, as a symbolic protest against the new rulers of Central Java who usurped most of Java and Madura, greatly helped by the Dutch East India Company.

    The other keris is from Bali. The blade could have some age, but the beautifully carved 'clothes' are probably mid-20th century. Those sheaths and hilts were mostly carved for souvenir pieces, although some, like this one, contain traditional blades. Would love to see this blade as well.:)
    The hilt is carved in the shape of a demon called Buta Nawa Sari. He is related to Shiva Bhairava worship, Shiva as the destroyer in the cycle of creation-sustaining-destroying-creation, etc.
    In Indonesia demons are not necessarily evil. Moreover, the presence of a figure of a demon means the real demon stays away, because that space is already occupied by another demon. Indonesian demons are not the brightest bunch.;)
    I am guessing your Buta has a flower or a bunch of rice ears behand his back, in his right hand.
    The hilt ring is brass inlaid with glass cabochons.
    The front of the ship of the sheath probably has a mask with hands next to it, but we'll see that when you can post more pics.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2019
  10. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It is really the other way around. The beautiful Thai Patani keris are derived from Javanese keris.:)

    The keris originated in East Java. Because the East Javanese Majapahit empire occupied most of island Southeast Asia and part of the mainland as well, the keris culture spread to those regions.
    On Java and neighbouring Madura the keris is mostly a spiritual companion, with the power to enhance a person's personality and spiritual development. Keris are also use in meditation and for healing.
    It can also be a sign of status. For instance court keris have a certain colour code for the different ranks and grades of kinship to the king or Sultan.
    As a dagger it is only used as a 'last resort weapon', when all other forms of defence have failed.

    In other parts of Southeast Asia the keris is seen mostly as a spiritually charged status symbol and as a weapon.
     
    Jivvy, judy, 2manybooks and 6 others like this.
  11. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:
     
  12. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

    How nice. One could be eliminated by a 'spiritually charged' weapon, as opposed to ye ordinary kitchen knife...


    :)
     
    Jivvy, judy, Christmasjoy and 6 others like this.
  13. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    And there you have it!!!!!:singing::singing::singing::):) Thank you AJ!!! You are always SO thorough!! Along with 2ManyBooks and Phaik Hooi.....!!!!!
     
  14. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    :kiss:
     
  15. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

     
  16. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Nummy Num Num !!!!!!!!

    Me likey..!

    Rats....now I can't really add anything here.....
    Oh well.......the Keris Master has spoken !
    & the Mandau Mistress too !!!

    Hummmm....let me think.............OK !!

    A Mandau is often accompanied with a whittling knife, generally referred to as Pisau raut.

    I've seen many a Mandau....they do not always come with the extra knife.....so that's nice to see !!

    Phew....
     
  17. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    The hilt is carved in the shape of a demon called Buta Nawa Sari.

    Coromandel wood ????
     
  18. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Yep.
    You added something after all.:)
     
  19. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    yes.....a teeny weeny whittle bit !!! Ahhhhhhh !!!!! :happy::happy::happy:
     
  20. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    I can only hope when and if she posts more blades......... you're asleep !!!!
    HAhahaha!!!!!!!!!!!
     
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