Balinese Keris

Keris in Bali

While living in Bali in 1973, I bought 130 antique keris from two knowledgeable dealers who stopped by my bungalow at Puri Agung, Peliatan, whenever they thought they had one or two that might interest me. In most cases, only the blade was available, as the handles and sheaths had been previously sold. But many of those blades have proved to be remarkable examples of the rare art of the Balinese keris maker.

I gave a few away before leaving at the end of that year, shipped the rest home, and did little with them until about a decade ago. As I returned to Bali more frequently after 2009, I always brought a few with me. I’m now working with a network of craftsmen dedicated to transforming an old rusty keris blade into a gloriously renewed artifact of ancient tradition.

Among them are ironsmiths and keris workers who repair and restore old blades and sheaths; carvers of wood, bone, moose antler, and whale-teeth who fashion new handles; workers in brass, silver, and gold, who decorate sheaths in traditional motifs and create miniature figurative sculptures exquisitely designed both to fit a hand and sit atop a sheathed blade like it was born to the position.

The photos in the slide show on this page show these craftsmen in their forges, workshops, and studios.

All the photos are by Anggara Mahendra of Denpasar, Bali. All are copyrighted; please contact Bali Arts via the contact page if you are interested in using any of them.

The photo stream begins with a Balinese keris and a rare Kala Rahu motif worked into the blade, shot before restoring the pamor in the blade…

… and the same keris after restoration. This is one of very few keris complete with sheath and handle bought in 1973.

There are still a few smiths making keris in Bali. Here Pandé Nyoman Budiana of Tatasan prays before beginning work.

Pandé Ketut Margi of Tabanan begins forging a new keris blade. Keris smiths often fabricate tools and gongs as well.

Pandé Ketut Mudra of Kusambe reaches into his forge with a tool to examine the readiness of a knife blade he is forging.

Mangku Merta of Bangli specializes in creating traditional keris handles in brass, silver and gold.

In the initial stage, using traditional tools for repoussé metalwork, he begins to shape a figurine handle.

In the initial stage, using traditional tools for repoussémetalwork, he begins to shape a figurine handle.

The outline of the figure emerges as soft brass is shaped by gentle hammering from the outside on the stationary tool inside the cylinder.

Three stages of repoussé work show a bare brass cylinder, a work in progress, and a finished raksasa handle.

Three stages of repousséwork show a bare brass cylinder, a work in progress, and a finished raksasa handle.