Keris is the name to a type of old weapon. May I say "Kris" for Keris ? Because in some places it is called the "Long Dagger" or the "Slender Short Sword" or "Belati Panjang".The krises are the traditional weapons. Their shapes are not long. They have been used by Malays since early of glory days of the Malay Sultanates' reign more than 600 years ago, especially to the warriors, heroes and among the dignitaries of palaces. The kris is one of the complements in terms of glory of the Malay kings, or the symbol of their power and sovereignty. Sang Guna is the first person in the era of Sultan Muhammad Shah of Malacca, who had wrought the kris with span three times of between a thumb and a finger for measuring in length that is, approximately 70cm.
The krises have variety of shapes and sizes. Usually, every keris has a two-sided slicer, widened at the base with tapered and sharp at the tip. Most of the krises have a series of small curves at the edges which it is called the "lok" in Malay's terms. Whether it three, five, seven or nine of the curves. There are also straight forms. The long kris blade with size is 61cm in length and the edge shaped a sword-like well-known is Keris Sundang. It has more than 29 curves.
Keris have beauty of wrought engravings, and charming on the hilts and sheaths. The hilt of krises, they are usually from 12cm to 18cm in length, and bend shaped at the middle as if the head of the stick. Carved entirely by hand and have aesthetic value of the Malay art. Elements of iron alloy and meteor are the main mixture to make a blade of kris.
Various kinds of decorative that visible on kris hilts. Seen, most of the decorative themes are related to flower bas-relief, awan larat, flower perforations, ketam guri, the form of fauna, and a Hindu deity seemingly such as human faces. As known the dokok, pendongkok, memendak or the kris tray, it is the hilt base of a kris that is, the base connected to the part of kris-blade. The kris trays were made of metal such as copper, silver or gold. Their shapes are such things as a flower, floriated wire and circlet with the inlaid of jewel, or ordinary sculpture. A metal ring on a kris latch mounted on the base of the kris hilt that is, on the surface of 'ganja' (guard at the top of a kris blade). Their handles and sheaths are usually made from the base of tree trunks or the wood of tap roots. Types of wood which always selected to build the kris sheaths are Kemuning, Tegor, Tempinis, Sena, Celagi, Petai belalang, Boai, Lebang and Kayu hitam. The non-wood materials are ivory, buffalo horn, whale teeth, gold, silver, iron and coral.
Various names have been given to the krises. Among them are the Ayam Teleng, Anak Ayam Sejuk, Jawa Demam, Kakaktua, Tapak Kuda and Pekaka. Manifestation of the kris designs explained in regard to the strength and the power as monster and Garuda.
There are three important aspects of the kris-edges appearance. They are the form of cloud, the pattern of prestige, and the shape of waves which existence of a mixture of metals including Nickel. Several krises are viewed as human. Some owners or the kris-makers intrust magical elements as the guardian to their weapons. So that it gave power. That was purportedly believed.
Keris Madura is one of the types of ceremonial knives. It is beautifully sculpted on the crosspiece hilt, and made of old deer-horn or ivory. The size of the sheath is approximately 16cm in width and 54cm in length. This kris is very famous. It has been encompassing in the Malay and Indonesian realm since hundreds of years ago, a kind of very old dagger. The Keris Madura blades were made of iron and nickel, and often made of meteoric. They were highly regarded as powerful talisman. Supernatural powers that were associated with them reaching out to a number of imaginable such as: attract wealth; power; fortune; influence; love; ward off black magic, jealousy, fire, poison, violence and lightning; make someone can be dancing well; or the ability to be a respectable person, or a good soldier. As known, the Keris Madura is very old, and the original of it may very high price. The blacksmiths who are expert in forging the krises were respected and recognizable because of their mystical power. Those are obsessions for some people. More about keris click here
Original articles are derived from several sources. Among them are from websites. Then, I was translating and analyzing them in the appropriate setting, according my way. Below is about painting.
genre: heritage
title: keris madura
medium: oil painting on canvas
size: 50cm x 27cm
year: 2011
price: sold to Sdr Yusri Rasak