Age of this Indonesian ceremonial knife?

I've searched online and there are many of these for sale, but I can't tell if this is old or new. It's called a Keris knife or dagger. The handle is carved wood and has a lion face . The blade is curvy and rusty. The top of the case is hand carved with a nice wave design and the bottom is also wood. All together, it measures 11". Is it old or newer? I have no idea if it's worth $50 or $500. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

You are just begging to hear from @Any Jewelry !!!!

 

Meanwhile, you can do a site search for posts with the word keris put up by Any Jewelry. It will get you started.

 

It is a souvenir from Bali. It is not a keris as such, but it resembles a keris. It is probably 1930s-50s.
It is based on a 'keris jimat', a small keris worn for spiritual protection.
The hilt represents Buta Nawasari, a benevolent demon. All of these souvenirs have the same type hilt. Unfortunately the carving of yours isn't very good.

Here in The Netherlands you can buy something like this for 10 euro, but I am sure you could ask more for it in the US.

 

Thank you!

 

It is difficult to see on yours, but on this Buta Nawasari you can see that it is more of a demon than a lion:


https://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/archived_objects/balinese-gilded-kris/

 

Here are some real keris for reference:
If you come across a small keris it is usually a woman's keris. This one was made by ethnic Balinese on neighbouring Lombok, the sheath is for a Brahmin, the hilt is for everyday wear:



The back with pen for size:


The keris blade has pamor, a pattern of a nickel containing alloy, and the base is nicely carved. This pamor symbolizes a meteor, it is one of the highly valued and rare ones.
Blades can be wavy or straight.


Detailed carving on the sides of the base. The hilt ring is gilded and set with glass cabochons:

 

An even smaller keris is a keris jimat, which yours was inspired by. As you can see, the hilt also represents the Buta Nawasari. The ship of the sheath is of a rare Javanese-inspired moon shape,and carved from buffalo horn. The tip of the sheath is bone with buffalo horn rings.



The back, with a pen for size:


The inhabitant , a keris jimat of East Javanese origin, again with pamor. It is tiny compared to the sheath, but the opening does not go all the way. The bone tip serves to facilitate easy wear, for instance under a waistband.

The base of the blade is carved in the shape of a seated religious student, studying a holy book:

 

& Lo & Behold...........U get the full 9 yards........

 

Missed you last night.

 

no worries girl !!!
U hit me up when needed...& this is indeed AJ's territory !!!!

 

This is one of the heavily illustrated books AJ should write.

 

or...just collect her posts here...and publish them !

 

I am still in the process of writing my book on the backgrounds of Javanese and Madurese keris - historical, cultural, spiritual etc. Writing occasionally, that is. I hang out too much on some antiques forum, what's it called again....

 

I wouldn't know about that.

 

Really ?
Let us know if it's any good !!!!

 

It is the best, great people too, and a lot of fun. Now, if I could only remember the name....