Malay Jawa Demam Keris

The keris is to be considered as one of the most iconic weapons of the Indonesian archipel.

Besides centuries of heritage, the keris is also known in Indonesian religion to posses mythical powers. The keris from the ‘modern’ period (1300-1600A.D.) are, besides functional in battle, also meant as an important symbol of status for the owner.
The ‘Empu’ (bladesmith) forges the blade to identify its future owner. Aspects such as leadership, wealth, luck or capability of consorting with bad spirits are a few of the numerous types of forging to make it suitable.

This example originates from the Malay Peninsula with an 18th century blade with fine ‘Tritik’ pamor and eight ‘luk’ curves. The blade was forged folded many times with an addition of nickel which shows a fine contrasting twisted pattern. The ‘Tritik’ pamor (grasshoppers teeth, combined with Wahyu Tumurun (revelation that descends) is an exclusive pamor type forged by the ‘Empu’ for a specific person.

The hilt depicts a ‘Jawa Demam’ an anthropomorphic figure which stylistically depicts a figure suffering from tropical fever. made of wood with a fabulous patina and ware, set in a brass ferrule, called ‘mendak’.

The scabbard is made of wood, covered with a silver band and a modern replaced ‘buntut’ with bone and horn finial. The scabbard is presumably later than the blade and hilt, a common feature in the Indonesian Archipelago due to the humid climate and environmental circumstances.

Pamor: Tritik (Untu-Walang and Wahyu Tumurun)