A KERIS WITH IVORY HANDLE Java, Nord- oder Bali, 18th c. / earfly 19th c. L. 56 cm This keris has a highly carved Balinese blade that is mounted in a North Javanese figural handle. The blade has 13 waves (luk). According to sources, the shape is called dhapur banaspati or kalawija, in reference to the detailed iron-cut demonic kala head on the gandik, the short thickened ricasso. The blade (bilah, wilah) has typical Balinese characteristics in terms of size, shape and strength. The very well smoothed surface (di nruwing, garapan) with the shiny sulphur arsenic patina, which is quite well preserved, is also classically Balinese. On the protruding side (kepet; "tail") of the blade and ganja (the attached cross-piece made of the same material as the blade) it has pronounced greneng, which are also quite typical for Bali. With some reservation, it can be concluded from comparative examples that it originated in northern Bali (Singaraja). The pamor (welding pattern), which is based on a low layer density without pattern control(beras wutah) but is forged flawlessly, also has a Balinese habitus. The ganja (crosspiece) was inlaid with flat gold tendrils, which suggests a high-ranking former owner or patron. The elaborately crafted figural ivory handle was probably also made in northern Bali or possibly in north-east Java. It depicts a grotesque, slightly inclined figure with stylised fangs from the Shivaite pantheon(gana), which has been dissolved in floral ornamentation. The shape of the handle is specific to North Java (Bantam, Semarang). At north-east Javanese centres, where the keris plays an important role, Pasuruan, Tuban, Gresik and also Banjuwangi (directly) opposite Bali are all possible sources. The handle figure with hibiscus flowers behind the ear and the angled foot as a reference to the "otherness" or otherworldly world and to the derivation of malevolent influences has stylistically clear Balinese references. The figure rises in a "casual" lalita meditation posture on a strongly alienated tumpal pedestal, which is linked to ancient Indonesian ancestral concepts and embodies the interlocking of the planes of existence. The trembalo wood scabbard has a typical Madurese design. It is in the rounded gayaman shape, which is a development of the 17th or 18th century. It does not really correspond with the quality of the handle and blade and is probably not originally part of the blade. Not only the shape of the scabbard, but also the type of pendok, the metal scabbard closed at the top and made of a silver alloy, are typical of Madura or the Javanese region opposite. 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, the handle partly with only few fine age cracks Lit.: Groneman, I. (1910): Der Kris der Javaner. Internationales Archiv für Ethnografie XIX. - Guritno, H. (2005): Keris Jawa. Jakarta. - Hidayat, M. M. (2013): Keris Indonesia. Estetika dan Makna Filosofi. Jakarta. - Jensen, K. S. (2007): Krisdisk: Krisses from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Kopenhagen. - Weihrauch, A. G. (2002): Ursprung und Entwicklungsgeschichte des Indonesischen Keris. Basel (Dissertation)