AS419
Material: wood, brass, hippopotamus ivory
Dimensions: 47cm
Provenance: Private Collection, UK
Notes: Fitted with carved ivory hulu (hilt), brass mendak (collar), the wrought iron wavy pamor (damascened) blade within flared waranka (cross guard) with embossed copper pendok bunton (sleeve) to the gandar (sheath). The keris is an asymmetrical double-edged dagger unique to island Southeast Asia and a very important part of the material culture of many communities from Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula to Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Mindanao and as far east as Sumbawa. It is believed that these knives originated in Java sometime around the 9th century and was derived from earlier Indian and indigenous blade types. By around the 14th century they had evolved into more or less its modern form as a thrusting dagger with an asymmetrical blade and integral guard. It was during the height of the Majapahit Empire that the keris appears to have spread out of Java. Fine keris were frequently sent by the Majapahit kings as prestige gifts to prominent local rulers and keris were also produced in Java as piece goods for regional trade. Later keris smiths also began migrating out of Java, introducing their art to regional centres which evolved their own keris styles, such as with this example from Madura. Price: £590
AS83
Material: silver gilt
Dimensions: 10 x 14cm Diam
Provenance: Private collection, UK
Notes: Belt Buckles of various designs are worn by Straits Chinese women in Borneo, Penang, Malaya, Singapore and Indonesia on important occasions like weddings. The buckle is repousse decorated with pairs of Taoist figures, insects, birds and flowers. The back has clasps for attaching a silver belt.
Price: POA
AS79
Material: silver gilt
Dimensions: 9cm Diam
Provenance: Private collection, UK
Notes: Hair ornaments are worn by Straits Chinese women in Borneo, Penang, Malaya, Singapore and Indonesia during festivals and during important celebrations like weddings. The ornament head is repousse decorated with the three Taoist Star Gods, Fu, Lu and Shou whilst the stem is engraved with panels flowers. The back is stamped with Chinese silver makers marks.
Price: £390
AS87
Material: iron, wood, rattan
Dimensions: 72cm including scabbard, blade 54.5cm
Provenance: Arthur Winston Moore, 1910-1937, collected in Dulit, central Sarawak during Oxford University Expedition in 1932.
Notes: This classic old Dayak weapon has a carved wood hilt finely decorated with ash and other motifs. It is bound the the blade with fine woven rattan. The blade has been blackened by the smith and the edges polished. The wood scabbard is partially incised, and bound with rattan, with plaited rattan sling. Price: POA
Material: coconut, wood.
Dimensions: 33cm
Provenance: Private Collection, UK
Price: £290
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