Javanese Solo Wavy Blade Keris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

  • Javanese Wavy Blade Kris

Javanese Solo Wavy Blade Keris
Mataram Period - Surakarta Sultanate, Dutch East Indies (Surakarta, Java, Indonesia)
Blade: 17th - 18th century
Hilt: First half 19th century
Iron, hardwood, silver alloy
Blade: 36,3cm
Hilt & Blade: 47cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -
Collection Date: 2021
Collection Number: 402

Deaccessioned from the Valentine Museum: Richmond, Virginia, USA (2021)

A Central Javanese Solo keris with a wavy blade dating from the first half of the 19th century. The iron blade is Mataram period forged in folded steel. It has an applied black lacquer coating, presumably by the musuem to preserve the blade from deterioration. The wavy blade is showing 10 luk (curves) at present due to blade loss. At one time, it was 11 luk. Worn, but well pronounced ricikan with strong sogokan, tikel alis, and ada-ada. There are red accesseion numbers on the ganja that are painted (15.5.17), presuming this piece entered the Valentine Museum's collection in 1915.

The wooden hulu (hilt) carved in the Solo Islamized style of the Royal Palaces in Central Java in a cecekan style hilt with seven flat planar sides and two patra (carvings) at internal angles of the hilt. The one nearest the pommel possibly represents the kala mask, a benevolent demon, and the small protrusion in the carving called a citak (or kuncung?) represents a nose. Silver alloy selut (bolster) and mendek (ferrule). These parts are more related to Malay compared to Java.

Difficult to date, it was stated that the blade is Mataram period from the 17th - 18th century, while the dress is 19th century. The planar hilt style originated in the Islamic enclaves of the North Coast and were originally the prerogative of princes. This example is likely from Pakubuwono IIX or IX ruling era in Surakarta. According to A.G. Maisey, he believes that this keris perhaps was last worn in East Jawa, maybe along the coast due to its dress. An old blade example with a great strong contour profile yet simple in form and structure.