MALAY ART GALLERY'S....House of  Keris

Keris Panjang Penyalang Melayu Petanda 0412.

Keris Panjang Penyalang Melayu Petanda 0412 – A rare form of long kris which is also used for execution! Handle is of hard woods kemuning woods, and carved in the less common parrot form or burung serindit, in Malay. The top sheath or sampir in Malay, is in the crescent moon or sabit bulan form, and is made of very well selected kemuning woods with natural flashing grains. Bottom stem or gandar is made of angsena woods with tiger’s stripe grains, having finely repoussed silver panels and twisted bands. Thick and pierced through silver pendoko or ferrule completes the fittings. 

  Long and slim blade has all the typical characteristics of a keris panjang with the fretworks or grenengs and a small circular depression at the gandik.
 The long and slim nature of the blade makes its use as an executioner's keris is very appropriate. The condemned was seated; his arm held by guards, the executioner holding the kris vertically and points it on the victim's left shoulder, near the neck just behind the collar-bone. When the signal was given, the blade is driven downwards through the heart. As the blade is withdrawn, a cotton pad is placed into the opening caused by the thrust. This method of execution is theoretically bloodless.

  Pamor patterns are not contrasting but shows forging of the miring technique, and has a single vertical pamor line at the middle of the blade called pamor sada saler.
On one side of the blade, there is an arrow like marking along the middle of the blade called petanda in Malay.
It's used more as an execution rather than a practical weapon, makes the keris panjang a status wear, or for a person who can commission an execution.

Condition: Very good condition.

Age:  Krises are traditionally made without any date stampings or engravings of the makers' name. Although a kris smith or "empu" has his own styles configured together with the dapor and especially the ganjar (cross piece). Obvious age wear and tear, usage, familiarity with forms, motifs and designs, origin and history, mediums and materials used are our guidelines in determining an approximate age. This particular piece, from our experience and knowledge, should go back to the late 19^th century blade and sheath; with newly made hilt and silverworks.

Length of blade: 18.2".   Overall length: